Alexseal happiness

[tsell]

I don’t usually show off, but I had to share ta couple of pictures of the paint. It was an unbelievable amount of work, starting with fairing the topsides, primer then topcoat. I don’t work fast, it took me a whole day to sand the topsides each time, probably 4 rounds during the fairing process, finishing with 180 grit to get ready for primer, then 180 again after the 1st coat, and 320 after the second. Since I have to work for a living I rarely have 2 days in a row, so I sanded with 400 grit after each coat of Alexseal Storm Blue. Waited for the forecast to givens us a sunny day with reasonable humidity, finally got one in mid July. While I was rolling on the first coat a storm cell developed and we got torrential rain, right on the wet paint. So had to sand all off and start over. After I got another coat rolled a week later I sanded again, then tried to do 2 coats without sanding. Ran out of time so had to sand again. Fourth coat was supposed to be the show coat, but I think the humidity was too high and the orange peel was atrocious. So back to the sander. Try number 5 I started late in the day, and with bad light I left a bunch of holidays. Plus still too much orange peel for the amount of effort I put in. So another round of sanding.
Today we finally had good painting weather, low 70’s and 50% humidity. And I finally got the look I had hoped for. Below are a couple of before and after pics. Rolled with a red tree mohair roller and using Alexseal rolling additive, no tipping. Now I just have to get the damn thing in the water.

[jcapo]

Nice job!

I'm using Alexseal on my deck with some Soft Sand areas. Alexseal flows like no other paint I've used, its 90+F here, and I've been messing about with boats for 40+ years.

[Matt Johnson]

Gorgeous! Great job getting through all the prep work! It's tough but worth the effort.

[catsketcher]

I have a good friend who paints boats for a living. He gets the jobs after people get quotes from yards that spray. After the owners pick themselves up from the floor he quotes them a substantial discount because he can roll Alexseal. He raves about the paint and won't use anything else. It is awfully expensive but he uses very small amounts and produces and excellent finish - like you with no tipping. He says it flows beautifully and the results back him up. The owners like it because he produces a spray like job for much less cost, even with the sanding between coats.

One main reason is because in Australia it is either illegal or highly frowned upon to spray out in the open. It is also against our OHS policies to spray in a shed without proper extraction and anti ignition lighting. So the sheds available are few and expensive - hence the high price for spraying. Whereas rolling can be done in any shed or even outside.

[tsell]

Thanks. Of course it is the best it will ever look right now, as soon as we launch it will start getting beat on, but hopefully it looks decent for a long time. Decks are next, we are also using SoftSand. We put it on our old boat and were very happy with it.

[hugosalt]

Very impressive! Both the finished product and your determination.
Sail her with much deserved pride.