2009

I spent several weeks during the summer repainting the cabin topside. I used five or six coats of the system-three LPU paint I used originally, but this time with a brush rather than spraying. Its very difficult to work with outside. Inside a shed with constant tempurature would make it much easier. The problem is thinning just right to get the dry-time what you need. In direct sun it can dry way too fast for the brush strokes to flow out. On a sunny calm day with a piece of cardboard to shade there area I was working on I ended up with the best results. I've started to rub on uv protectant at least a couple of times a year, which I expect to extend the paint life this time. I also had to splice in some new wood on the starboard side rail at that step by the pilot house. There was a difficult joint there that goy some water incursion at the seam. Sanded the whole rail, epoxied to seal the wood and then put a couple of coats of Sikkens Cetol on top for UV protection. Last couple of years I've had just cetol on bare wood which worked well except at the lap joints where wood was butted. Cleaned out the grooves, filled them with epoxy. We'll see how long this lasts. I still expect to add another coat of Cetol each year.  

.Boat in water

Inside pilot house looking forward
Painted window frames, and varnished over the epoxy elsewhere (for UV protection).

pilot house looking aft

Working on the pilot house bunks and ventalation channels. The little box on the wall contains a stainless steel flap valve which should automatically close the engine vent opening in the event of a rollover, or incoming storm surge.

Main cabin looking aft late summer 2009

The galley is nearly complete now along with the chart table area. Working on insulating the hull.