After 15 years, the topside paint (sides of the boat above the water) was looking very tired, so we decided to paint her while here in
New Zealand.
After a bit of to-and-fro we decided with International’s two-part polyurethane system.
With the condition of our paint before we started we had to sand it right back to gelcoat in most places first and then start with an epoxy primer.
After two coats of the primer, we painted two undercoats and then two final coats; it meant sanding the entire boat 5 times and painting it six times.
With the usual boatyard full of opinions on how to, when to and what to paint with, we think we had the tools sorted by the last coat and the technique of rolling and tipping nearly figured out.
All would have been perfect(or as close to perfect as we managed) had a 20-second shower not speckled our port side on the final coat.
With another week of rain forecast, we have left the dots as a reminder of
New Zealand.
From 30 feet away we’ve had lots of admirers and if you discount the odd run and sag even the pro’s were a little surprised with our final result.
In the end it was worth the arm workout and tensions.
The steering gear also came off and had a complete polish and service, we replaced our rudder bearings and now after nearly 3 weeks, we’re glad to be floating again. Women are scarce in a shipyard, so I consider myself lucky to have Heidi working beside me, but that’s how we met in the first place!
