thompsondockside.com

Hello

I was wondering how people get perfect mirror like finishes on their paint jobs after having fixed or pieced in a piece of a strake. Is there some kind of surface putty or bondo like material that is used to cover up imperfections prior to painting?

I was at a boat auction in Clayton NY this summer and was blown away by the restore job on a Chris Craft Sea Skiff lapstrake. Actually I found some pictures on the web at http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7662724
Look at the one shot of the guy and his wife/significant other driving the boat, ... the finish is immaculate!! I saw this boat up close and the black finish was like glass. There was not one imperfection in any strake the entire length of the boat. I would venture to say the boat looked better then when it came out of the factory!!! I guess this is why it has won best of show as some boat shows.

So how do you prep a plank/strake to get a finish like this, ... almost like looking into a mirror with no blemishes? I can't believe its just paint over wood. Was it sprayed, brushed, was there some kind of filler used on the strake prior to primer and paint?

Just wondering

Thanks
Peter

Peter,

That boat probably has a zillion coats of paint and varnish on it. Between each coat it is sanded to smooth out any imperfections and another coat is put on sanded and another coat and so on.
It could also be a spray painted hull.
The trick is to have a little dust in the area you are doing the finishing in and taking the time to sand out any blemishes early on in the process and as the coats build up the surface gets smoother and smoother.

A boat like that Chris Craft the finish alone if done professionally would cost $10,000.00 or better. It all about time, effert and patience, patience, patience........
One can not rush a good thing.

Have a Great Thanksgiving All!

Phill

Thanks Phil

I do a little woodworking and its the same process there as I am sure you know. Apply finish, sand, apply finish sand, etc,.... then wet sand, and again, and again, your hands fall off, then again ;->

Will built up coats of paint that are properly applied and sanded help cover up repair blemishes, like the edge of a scarfed in plank?
Or do you use some sort of putty to feather the new work into the old?

Regards
Peter