Graduate 2024 Innuendo Restoration - Part 5: Painting and Varnishing

by Andrew Wilford 17 Jun 2012 22:05 BST

Priming

The boat then received two coats of International primer and at last “Innuendo” was starting to look very good indeed… her re-profiled keel and varnished stem and transom really did look rather smart.

I was advised by International that Epiglass cures slightly differently to conventional varnish and should be left for a few days to harden. However since it provides no UV protection it must not be left in sunlight. I debated long and hard about the use of “two pack poly” and ultimately elected to use International Goldspar one pack. To get a really good finish with two pack can be a bit tricky, very wasteful, and the resultant finish prone to cracking.

I did follow the instructions and apply one thinned coat although I could not really see why since the whole surface was already sealed with resin. I then applied a further 3 coats relatively quick succession with minimal rubbing down between coats. My OWN experience … which does not come from a text book … tells me that providing the previous coat has not been allowed to dry for more than a day or so the mechanical bond between coats is fine. Lots of sanding is required if (a) you have loads of brush marks or (b) there are other imperfections in the surface to be coated. All sanding then does is remove the “body” you are trying to build up.

To get a really deep shine there is no substitute for the number of coats… 5 – 7 to get a really deep shine.

However unlike the first three coats the last three are rubbed down really well using something like 1000 grade wet and dry. You MUST ensure that the whole area is absolutely flat and mat … no gloss ANYWHERE! In that way you know the whole area is covered. OK, you could use coarser wet and dry but that is simply removing the body you are trying to build up SO DON’T.

Secrets of a good finish

DON’T use a new brush, DON’T overload the brush, work on a small defined area at a time and remember to keep one “wet” edge and NOT several. When applying by brush quickly apply the varnish with the grain and once applied go across the same area at 90 degrees (across the grain) before laying off from right to left (for right handed individuals), with the grain again, and with the brush angled at about 45 degrees using just the tip and VERY light pressure.

Alternative 1 and please don’t be alarmed … purchase a cheap foam roller and plastic paint tray. Detail in all the edges with a brush and simply fill in using the foam roller (DOES NOT work for two pack poly). Simple roll it on taking care not to apply too thickly and WALK AWAY. Why do I say “walk away” … well … immediately you apply the varnish (or paint) you end up with a surface that looks bubbly and cratered and you will want to go over it and over it … DON’T! Walk away and watch the TV and return a few hours later. Providing the ambient temperature is correct you will find that all those surface blemishes have simply pulled out and you are left with a perfectly flat and smooth finish with absolutely no brush marks! Many many years ago I remember doing an Osprey for the Boat Show in London and being asked how I obtained the finish … nobody believed me when I told them!

Alternative 2 … try a simple paint pad; Ronseal I believe produce a new product which I guess may well be ideal.

Paint pads are certainly good for those awkward places behind and underneath other components. For me I use a combination of all three … brush, roller and pad. Once the whole area covered is perfectly dry … 7 – 10 days … take a sheet of brown wrapping paper and some paraffin and rub over the whole area WITH THE GRAIN. You will think you are getting nowhere but these are all tips given to me by the guy from International Paints who HAND painted Onassis’ yacht! Believe it or not but paraffin and brown paper are two extremely fine abrasives which when used together burnish out small blemishes and dust. Once finished polish the whole area with a good quality car wax!

The hull is treated in much the same way as the decks 5 - 7 coats of high quality Yacht paint … NOT B&Q’s finest!

I am by no means an expert but the above works for me and when I did sail competitively my boats were always known for looking like a grand piano!

Once I was satisfied with the paint finish I then set about putting the boat back together and then replacing the “Innuendo name logo”, keel band and slot gasket.