Paint Job

[Billybob]

Merriweather - It took me a year to redo "The Beach Blonde" BUT most of that was recoring panels, and redoing console, then you got wiring, rigging, and of course the bottom got completely stripped and barrier coated, and some transom work.Assuming I had nothing to do but prep and shoot, I could have done it in a couple weeks.Of course, here in Ct., it was May before I could either mix epoxy or paint.I would say that if your boat is all rock solid, and all you're looking to do is prep/paint - then all you can get sarted on now is removing hardware and sanding.Unless you can get it in a shed somewhere.I know it's hard, every night I pull in the driveway and there she is all covered up with a foot of hard snow on top, and I got a few projects I want to get done in the spring too.But I'll tell you, after sweating like a dog (o.k. they don't sweat) all summer long on that thing, it was one good feeling when I finally took that first ride in Sept.

[merriweather]

Billybob, from the looks of the photos of "The Beach Blonde," it was a year well spent, sweating like a dog or not (I heard they sweat through their tongues). Did you have help? We're in the process of naming our Seacraft, but so far we haven't been able to agree on anything. Is your boat's name in reference to her paint color? The snow will melt and she'll be back on the water before you know it. All boaters say the same thing about winter. Too bad this wasn't a sunny, windless day in May. Sigh.

[Billybob]

Yeah, it's sort of a play off bleach blonde - since it's a washed out yellow, and it's not her original color - ya know.Oh I had help alright, if you check out the last photo that's Greg, my trusted assistant "the shadow".He was about 10 years old then, I did make him get lost when I was actually spraying, but he was by my side for the whole rest of it.We also bought an old engine, so we spent a lot of time fixing that too.I think he has a lot of my gearhead genes in him.Of course, we can never sell "the boat that we built", as he likes to say.
A project like this is a great way to spend some quality time with the kids, too.

[merriweather]

Billybob, I revisited your photos and wonder if you weren't worried about spraying in an enclosed area? We have a garage but unfortunately it's not heated, otherwise we could get started on the paint job preparation. Considering his age, which parts of "The Beach Blonde's" overhaul was your helper competent enough to assist with? I agree it's a great activity to involve the kids in and we might give it a try if your experience was not too trying. Liked how you played off bleach blonde. We're getting close to agreeing to "On The Brink" if only because that's where we're headed because we can't agree on a name! By the way, I dabble in photography and think the photo of your boat docked at the marina is poster quality!