| align="center"> | | | | project will not consume you. I selected the port cap |
| When purchasing a used trawler or motor yacht, | | | | rail on the Patricia Ann to start my project. |
| itâs very easy to be turned off by the exterior | | | | Preparation of the painting surface consumes about 3 |
| looks of the yacht. Of course, I'm not suggesting that it | | | | 4 of the time you will spend on your plan. A terrible |
| be ignored. I tell buyers to judge how good the used | | | | surface will produce a bad paint job. Begin by cleaning |
| trawler or motor yachts been kept up by how she | | | | the gel coat with thinner. This will free the surface of |
| presents herself. If the exterior finish is all scratched up | | | | any wax that may have been applied that will cause |
| and the brightwork is in bad condition, I usually find | | | | your paint to lift after application. |
| everything else in the engine room the same way. It's | | | | The next step, take a small mallet and check the entire |
| simply an indicator. | | | | area to be painted, taping lightly to locate any voids |
| But a dull outside isn't a bad matter either. The gel coat | | | | below the gel coat. When you locate them and you |
| on a used trawler or motor yacht is there for one | | | | will, dig them out with a Dremel tool. You do not want |
| reason, to make her look beautiful. It has no other | | | | to spend the money and time to do a good paint job |
| purpose. The gel coats worst enemy is the ultraviolet | | | | and have voids open up later on. |
| rays of the sun. After 5-10 years exposed to in the | | | | I utilized the West System epoxy with the fairing filler |
| tropical Florida sun, almost all gel coats begin to dull and | | | | to repair the voids I found. Follow the directions |
| chalk up. Not even intense polishing will bring the gel | | | | provided to make the resin simple to use. Sandpaper |
| coat back to the luster when it was brand new. So | | | | them flush after the restored spots have cured. Wash |
| when you find a used trawler or motor yacht that has | | | | the dust off with water. |
| a lack luster outside but everything else is good to go, | | | | The hard part is not over yet? |
| there is a simple way to salvage her. How can we do | | | | Next, tape the region thats going to be painted and |
| that, by painting her? | | | | take off any hardware to make it go easier. I used the |
| Hatteras and Huckins are but two yachts that are | | | | 14 day painter's tape in stock at Lowe's or Home |
| painted at the factory. When we purchased our | | | | Depot for masking. |
| trawler the Patricia Ann, she was in excellent shape, | | | | Now we are ready to paint. I used a 4 inch foam roller |
| but her gel coat was dulled and there were a few | | | | and the best 2-1/2 inch natural paint brush I could find, |
| cosmetic fiberglass dings here and there. Professional | | | | also available at Lowe's. Mix up only enough paint that |
| painting of a used trawler or motor yacht is very | | | | you can apply in 2 hours, for me its 1/2 quart. The paint |
| expensive. You can plan on about $1000 a foot to | | | | is pricey, about $85.00 a quart and you don't need to |
| have it professionally done so that was out of the | | | | be throwing any out. |
| question. | | | | Only apply paint when the outside humidity is 75% or |
| I set off to research the process of performing the | | | | lower. Be certain there is no chance of rainfall. |
| painting myself and read as much as I could about | | | | Two part paint takes about 5 hours to cure. Be careful |
| what paint to choose and how to do it. At the Ft. | | | | to complete your painting before noon to provide |
| Lauderdale Boat Show, I talked with spokespeople | | | | complete drying. If dew falls on your paint, the moisture |
| from Interlux. The rep explained to me that both the | | | | will convert the high gloss to a flat finish. I use a |
| Interlux make of boat paints and the Awlgrip | | | | window between 10 AM and noon to paint. |
| trademark are very similar in preparation and | | | | When it was over, it took at least 600 hours to |
| application. Interlux, however, is developed for the | | | | prepare and paint the Patricia Ann. We utilized about 1 |
| do-it-yourselfer. So my choice was made, Interlux | | | | gallon of West System resin and 12 quarts of Interlux |
| Perfection, two part paint was the way I was going to | | | | Perfection to paint two coats on her. |
| go. | | | | Was it worth it? |
| Without going into detail about what the directions | | | | Absolutely! She looks beautiful! |
| state, I'll just say that even though working with | | | | If you have been contemplating the painting of your |
| two-part paints appears intimidating, itâs | | | | used trawler or motor yacht and would like to ask me |
| actually very easy to do. Just follow the instructions | | | | some specific questions, feel free to ask. |
| supplied with each can of paint and you'll get the | | | | Mike Dickens, the author, is a live aboard boat owner |
| technique immediately. | | | | and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA. |
| I chose the roll and tip method of practical application | | | | Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to |
| as spraying in a marina was impossible. Itâs | | | | customers worldwide. |
| easy to do once you practice. I practiced on a scrap | | | | Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our |
| piece of glass until I had it down pat. Directions are | | | | selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and |
| supplied by Interlux. | | | | Used Sailboats for Sale |
| Here are a few pointers. | | | | National and international sales. We ship Used |
| Start your project by separating the used trawler or | | | | Trawlers, Motor Yachts and Cruisers worldwide. |
| motor yacht into manageable segments; that way the | | | | Located in Florida, USA. |