First Coat of Topsides Paint

November 29, 2015

The first coat of topsides paint went onto Alva Anne today!  Very excited to have made the first coat by the end of November.  The day started out with very little motivation for any serious boat work, but with Maggie nudging me forward, we both set out determined to get the first coat onto the boat.

We started with sanding the third coat of Interlux Primekote with 220-grit paper.  I worked the 6" finish sander while Maggie worked the paint edging and tight spots that the random orbital could not get at.

We finished the sanding by vacuuming the surfaces and wiping them down with solvent to remove any residual dust.  This was my first attempt at using the Interlux Perfection two-part epoxy paint, but I had no issues with the application or preparation.  I did manage to forget to stock up on 4" solvent-resistant foam rollers, so we made a quick trip down to the local marine chandlery for supplies.  With sunlight fading, we made a quick 15-minute supply run and then got right to it.  

The Interlux Perfection paint requires a 2:1 mix ratio, and up to 10% thinning (as required).  Once part A and B were combined I awaited the 20-minute induction period and then thinned the paint by 10%.  The paint had good application characteristics and flowed out nicely to create a high-gloss finish.  Despite a few errant gnats, I am really pleased with this first coat of Interlux Perfection Oyster White.

Total Time: 2.5 Hrs