Fifth and Final Topcoat Application

January 11th, 2015

Determined to create a dust-free, or at least windless environment, I made a run to the big box hardware store the previous evening and purchased materials to this end.  I managed to persuade a couple employees to part with 40' of furring strip material for 30% of the retail price, and along with plastic sheeting 3.5mils thick, I was in business to eliminate the chance for a random gust of wind to ruin my best effort.  That evening, I went ahead and sealed the screened areas of the porch using the furring strips both at the top and bottom to secure the plastic sheeting.  It was an immediate improvement in the environment, and I'd be ready in the morning to prep the hull for its final topcoat.

Prior to breakfast, I donned a dust mask and hand-sanded the hull with 320-grit paper, making frequent paper changes to ensure a consistent surface prep.

Once I had finished the sanding, I vacuumed the hull thoroughly and then finished with a solvent wash to remove any remaining residue.  As I had done prior to the fourth topcoat application, I used a tack cloth to ensure the hull surface was a clean as possible.  Burning a little time, and to allow anything suspended in the air to settle, I went in for a little breakfast.  Now with the belly full, I returned to the workshop to prepare the paint: combining base and converter, along with a ~50% reducer by volume.  Yes, I bumped up the reducer a tad more.  My thought here was that I already had adequate paint thickness achieved on the hull, this final coat was more of an "appearance" coat, and finally, I was getting better and better results with the increase in reducer.

I finished mixing the paint and set it aside for the required 15-minute induction period.  While I waited through the induction period, I tacked off the hull one last time, and then changed into a fresh set of work clothes that I knew would be dust-free.  Finally, I grabbed my respirator and a fresh set of gloves and then set out to paint the sailing dinghy one last time.  As I had done the previous coats, I made my way around the hull making sure to paint off of a wet edge.  The lighting does not provide the best view, but this last topcoat application came out better than all previous applications.  I will allow the topcoat to cure over the coming days, prior to installing the new brightwork.  In the meantime, I will be treating the new brightwork with a teak sealer.  

Total Time: 1 Hour