Page 9
Project marches on, but this weekend was to "non-hull" related things. More time with the tablesaw, router table and other tools allowed me to finsh the anchor locker and install the stainless latch and knock out the step plates to be used after the deck is completed - this is all 3/4" starboard.
I also was able to
complete something I wanted to add to the console. I wanted drink holders and
the recessed mount work best for me. I also wanted to have light at night that
does not blind you, I went with this arrangement.
By day
And by night
Dragged the boat the 1 hour to my friend's shop and dismantled the trailer a little so we could get around the bow eye area.
We went on a little
ride to grab some duratek to help reduce the amount of buffing required and also
to let the hull warm up since it was only 40 degrees when I towed it up.
Spraying went rather easy and the Spectrum custom color was mixed in 2 - 2 quart
batches and was dumped into a pressure pot that fed a Devilbus MBC gun. Not sure
what the needle and seat size was, but it laid down lots of material when opened
up.
Coat 1 was quick and not enough to hide the gray color of the hull.
Coat 2 was laid on thicker and it built up quite nice.
More was applied, but
not too thick. We cleaned the gun quickly and just in time as the material was
starting to kick.
The shop is cranked up to 80 degrees for the overnight and tomorrow we will see
how it looks and start the buffing process. I'm very pleased with the outcome,
even though it's not done. I'll follow up with additional picks in a couple
days.
Primered the hatches with Awlgrip 545 white tonight. Coverage with the 545 is marginal, as Raybo mentioned, but it's easy to mix and lay down. I have 2 sprayable gallons (mixed) so the rest of the boat interior should not be an issue.
The hull is gelcoated and back home. Picked it up last night and got home around 8:30pm. I could not leave it alone and installed the flush mounted fuel vent and some other stuff.
It's difficult to get a good shot of the gloss the hull due to the angle of the sun at 6:45am, but here are a few.
In all there is about
9 hours of labor in gelcoating it, with the most going to sanding/buffing out
the hull. There's one spot on the transom we are not happy with, so it will get
re-shot (gelcoat) in a couple weeks when the boat is back up the shop having the
inside awlgripped. From the smile down the hull will have bottom paint and this
is why it did not get gelcoated.
Overall I am very satisfied and this was well worth the prep and sweat equity.
