9 Finishing

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Varnishing the deck

  • The deck is sanded with 220 grit paper and cleaned with paint thinner.
  • The hull is masked with plastic sheet.
  • Three coats of marine epoxy are applied to the deck.
  • Between coats the deck is sanded with 220 and 400 grit paper and wiped clean with paint thinner.
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Masking the deck

  • The varnished deck is covered with plastic sheet.
  • The plastic sheet is secured to the edges of the deck with masking tape.
  • The hull has been sanded smooth with 80, 150 and 220 grit paper .
  • In a few places the epoxy layer is sanded through to the cloth.
  • The hull is cleaned with water and then paint thinner.
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Painting The Hull

  • A coat of polyurethane white paint is applied.
  • The temperature drops below 40°F overnight.
  • The paint doesn't appear to be drying properly.
  • It's dry on the surface, but not adhering to the hull.
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After Painting The Hull

  • All day long the temperature doesn't rise above 60°F.
  • Put the boat in the sun to heat the hull.
  • A quick look with preliminary deck outfitting.
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After Painting The Hull

  • Benny wants to get in the picture too.
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Bringing the kayak inside the house to warm it up.

  • After 20 hours the paint is still not adhering to the hull
  • Decided to bring the kayak inside the house to dry.
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Drying the paint inside the house.

  • Even with the temperature at 80°F, the paint is not drying.
  • CUC said it could take up to four weeks for the paint to dry properly.
  • I didn't want to wait four weeks to find out if the paint would dry or not.
  • I decided to remove the paint..
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Removing the paint.

  • Paint is removed with razor blades, wood chisels and paint scrapers.
  • Hull is sanded with 60 grit paper to remove all traces of paint.
  • It's a 10 hour job.
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All that remains of the paint

  • It all fit into a small pile on the floor.
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All paint removed

  • A light sanding with 220 grit paper.
  • Lacquer thinner is used to clean the hull.
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Re-Masking the deck

  • The deck is again covered with plastic sheet.
  • The plastic sheet is secured to the edges of the deck with masking tape.
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Re-Epoxying the hull

  • Moved the kayak to my portable building
  • It's a bright sunny day and the temperature rises to 80°F.
  • Inside the building the temperature approaches 85°F.
  • The epoxy is applied to the hull.
  • The epoxy sets up fast and doesn't run.
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Re-Sanding the epoxy

  • Hull is sanded using a finish sander with 220 grit paper.
  • Lacquer thinner is used to clean the hull.
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Varnishing the hull

  • Decided to varnish the hull instead of painting it again.
  • Will add a white paint stripe at the deck line.
  • Sanded the hull using a finish sander with 220 grit paper.
  • Cleaned the hull with lacquer thinner.
  • Moved the kayak to my portable building and applied the varnish.
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It's ready to be paddled

  • Two coats of varnish are enough for now
  • If needed further touching up can be done next Spring

1 Scarf and Sheer
5 Hull Glassing
  9 Finishing
2 Hull Wiring
6 Rear Deck
10 Outfitting
3 Inside Fillets
7 Front Deck
11 Launching
4 Outside Fillets
8 Coaming
12 Logbook
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