We’ve fiberglassed the boat, but it isn’t pretty yet! We decided that in addition to the protective coat of epoxy on the outside of the boat and the topsides, we needed to add some color, as well as protect the inside of the boat.
Choosing Paint
We thought about using regular house paint to cover up the boat since the boat was going to sit on a trailer when not in use. I read several articles online that said this method would work. It was certainly the cheapest route to go, but I thought it more prudent to protect the inside of the boat – especially the exposed plywood, with something more durable. As such, we went with an epoxy paint. We chose TotalBoat brand barrier coat, which is a two-part paint normally used for the the bottom of a boat, below the waterline. We decided to coat the entire boat, with the exception of the topside areas, with multiple coats of this durable paint.
Painting the Inside
We painted the inside of the boat first. Following the directions from the manufacturer, we mixed and applied the epoxy barrier coat in layers. We used a foam roller to apply the paint and it worked well. We weren’t going for a show boat finish, which made this process much easier. Everywhere we saw exposed wood, we painted! We ended up painting four coats, allowing the appropriate cure time between coats, and ended up with a rather substantial coating on the inside of the boat. I’m quite sure it’ll handle the rough and tumble of sea-going use, as will be easy to paint again when the time comes.
Painting the Outside
With the inside of the boat painted, we used the same paint on the outside of the boat. We eventually flipped the boat over onto saw horses so it was easier to access and so we didn’t have to bend over to paint it like we did the interior of the boat.
Before we staged the boat on the sawhorses, however, we used a belt sander and an orbital sander to roughen the exterior surface so that the barrier coat would better adhere to the hull. This step was quite messy and we did it outside of the garage, utilizing respirators so we didn’t breath in the sanding dust. Once the boat was rough sanded, we moved it back into the garage and onto the saw horses.
We used soap and water to wash the hull and remove the majority of the sanding dust, as well as any other dirt or debris since it had been quite some time since we epoxy coated and fiberglassed the exterior of the hull. We then wiped it down with cleaner to make sure no residue or grease remained that would prevent the barrier coat from sticking.
Once the hull surface was ready, we mixed the paint per the instructions and applied it with foam rollers again. We did four coats on the outside of the boat, just like on the inside, and built up a thick barrier coat. Again, we did not try to achieve perfection with the paint job, and it was evident once the first coat of paint was installed that we didn’t try to achieve perfection fairing and smoothing the hull before painting! That first coat revealed every bump, gouge, drip, nick, and crevice in the hull surface! Yikes! Being our first attempting to build a boat in our backyard, however, we didn’t care and enjoyed the memory of every one of the surface defects.
A Little Color
Once we finished applying four coats of bottom paint to the inside and outside of the boat, it was time to give Elizabeth Lynn a little color to bring her to life! We decided on painting the hull exterior a nice shade of yellow, to really make her stand out. We used TotalBoat’s Wet Edge topside paint for this. I’m not sure how well it will hold up under the waterline, but seeing as the boat will be on the trailer most of its life, I think it’ll do okay. Plus there is a substantial barrier coat, and I’m already planning to have to repaint the boat every season or two to keep it shipshape.
A New Dory
Once we finished the painting and let the dory dry for several days, we flipped the boat over and prepared to put her on her trailer. It was time to get the dory, freshly pained and now ready for the water, out into the world to show off her bright new paint job! Before we put her on the trailer, however, we took a few final picture in the garage.
Gaining Mobility
With the final coats of paint completed, it was time to move the dory onto her trailer. Conveniently, this also aligned with the family’s move (again!) back to our home state of Virginia, where the dory will be put to good use in the waters of the lower Chesapeake Bay. Sam and I can’t wait to splash her later this year, once we get settled back in Virginia and I figure out how to get her registered and titled through Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
As the boat is finally all painted and relocated back to Virginia, just a few small projects will remain. What will it take to be finished? Click here to find out!