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Even if you have a fiberglass boat, there may be certain areas
that will need to be painted from time to time but if you have
a wood boat, it is a MUST every year or
two.
Painting your boat is not like painting your house. There are
rules you must abide by if you want a nice smooth finish. However,
if you apply these same rules to painting your
house you will have a nicer finish there also.
You can find these rules in any Chapman's and they work every
time if you will not skip any of the steps.
Rules for Painting
1) Never paint over a wet, dirty, or greasy surface.
2) Never paint during wet weather.
3) Never paint before cleaning and sanding.
4) Do not continuously apply new over old coats.
5) Never apply paint heavily.
6) Paint with reasonable frequency.
7) Putty after the priming coat.
8) Never use a blow torch immediately after applying paint remover. (KA-BOOM)
9) Never scrape or sand near fresh paint.
There is a generally preferred order for painting the various parts of a boat as follows:
1) All interiors, including bilge (if painted) and engines.
2) Spars.
3) Cabin exterior and decks.
4) All deck gear, cockpits, ventilators, hatches, etc.
5) Hull topsides.
6) Bottom.
7) Boot-topping. (A painted line that indicates the designed
waterline)
TECHNIQUES OF GOOD BOAT PAINTING
Make sure your paint isn't too thick. If it is, read the label
to learn what thinner may be used with the type of paint you are
using. If it has lumps in it from sitting, be sure to strain it
good before you begin to paint. Paint strainers are available
at most paint stores but if you do not have one and can't get
one, a piece of screen will work well or a lady's stocking. (It
would be advisable to ask for one that has a "run" in
it instead of helping yourself to your lady's stocking supply!)
After you have observed all of the rules above, it should be safe
to begin.
1) Use a GOOD brush. (never use a roller on the outside of your
boat.)
2) Make sure there are no loose bristles that will come off and stick to your wet paint. Flick the bristles before you begin and if there are a lot of them coming loose, use a different brush.
3) Once you begin to paint, make sure your brush is moving
when you touch the surface of the boat. Also make sure it is moving
when you leave the surface. This will prevent "sticky"
spots that bunch up where your brush touched the wood.
Flow the paint on, don't brush it. In other words, start the brush
moving in front of your left shoulder and keep moving until the
brush is on the surface. Once it is on the surface do not stop
the movement for any reason. Move it in a straight path and then
as you leave the surface, bring the brush up in front of your
right shoulder. This may sound silly but it allows you to flow
the paint on for a smoother, glossier finish.
4) If, after you have made certain that your brush is in good condition and a bristle or two comes out anyway and sticks to your paint, do not try to remove it until the paint is dry. Wait. After the paint has dried use a sewing needle or a straight pin to gently loosen the offending bristle and when this is done, VERY lightly sand that spot with "wet or dry" sandpaper, use mineral spirits to remove any sandpaper particles and apply a thin coat of paint over the spot.
5) If trash settles in your wet paint for any reason, wait
for the paint to dry before attempting to remove the trash and
follow the rules listed above.
Happy Painting.
The Pirate's Lady
