Topsides: aplying Interlux Perfection

We sprayed on three coats of interlux epoxy primer and sanded it down with 220 grit paper to get the topsides ready for the application of the Perfection coating.  Jessie, Noah, and Jared did the bulk of the hand sanding and a good deal of the DA work as well. After the sanding was completed we spent a couple hours vacuuming the boat, the shop, and every surface we could to try and contain the dust. The following day we wiped the topsides as usual and followed it up with a final wipe with tack cloths just prior to painting.

We mixed up a batch of the paint base with the catalyst and let it sit for the twenty minute induction time while we got our painting supplies ready.

We started at the bow and applied the product as directed on the can using the rolling and tipping method; one person applying the product by rolling out a small area with a foam roller and a second person following behind and using the tip of a paintbrush to lightly brush the surface to remove the roller texture and little bubbles.

It went well but we did lay it on a little too thick at first and got a couple of runs in the finish and I was not completely satisfied with the results. In some areas the paint did not blend as it should have and when you look at it closely you can see brush strokes in the surface. It was a good trial run and we are going to sand it down with 220 and use it as a base coat and do it again in a few days after the paints hardened up well.

Next time we will thin it a little and try using a foam brush to tip it out with. I've had good success in the past using a foam brush for tipping, albeit not with a urethane paint. This is the first time I've personally applied urethane paint and am still getting the feel for it.

 We do a lot of bottom paints and fiberglass and gel-coat work in our shops but we avoid topside urathane or fine finishing coatings. Our two shops are located on a short dirt road and its impossible to keep the dust situation to a level that is acceptable for commercial workmanship of fine finishes. We did the best we could to mitigate against dust but some still found its way onto the finished surface. For the next round we will mist the floor, walls, and everything else we can with water prior to painting to try and hold the dust down a little better.

 

Paint dry but not perfect.

  

Shop reflecting in dried paint