Boot top project

[Jim Walsh]

Orion's boot top was looking pretty shabby. It had been the original factory brown, red, and most recently back to brown. A few years ago I had grown tired of a dirty boot top so I had raised it by an inch and painted it with brown ablative bottom paint. It wasn't readily apparent my boot top was bottom paint at a polite distance, but up close it had become the subject of undue scrutiny by persons who shall remain unnamed. One a frequent contributor to this forum and another who is a professional fiberglass man and painter. It was time to remedy the situation.
The pro has been kind enough to offer advice and detail his methods so Orion can once again be proud of her boot top.
I masked above and below the boot top and used an oscillating tool with progressively finer grits to remove all of the existing paint. I then wiped the area down with mineral spirits. Next I masked 3" above and 2" below the boot top in preparation for primer application. The primer used was Interlux InterProtect 2000E. It was applied with a small roller. Three coats have been applied. Next I have to sand the primer with 320 grit paper to obtain a perfectly smooth finish. That will be done in the next couple days.
Once my professional mentor is satisfied with my prep work it will be sprayed with sable brown AwlCraft. Since it is so late in the season it may not be sprayed until spring, but I have added some photos of the steps taken so far. I will update the photos as I progress.

[John Stone]

Very nice Jim. Look forward to seeing it when complete.

[Jim Walsh]

Done! Since this project was completed outdoors the weather was the controlling factor. The temps were in the mid 40s but the breeze was very light today. I helped the painting pro mask the boot top and watched as he sprayed three coats of sable brown AwlCraft paint.
Now Orion has a boot top to be proud of and I can get her winter cover on next week.

[John Stone]

Excellent Jim. I like your winter cover frame too!

[Jim Walsh]

Thanks John. The frame is for my Fairclough cover.

[Steve Laume]

Orion is going to be looking might fine this spring. I.m not sayin the old boot stripe was nasty but the new one is got to look great!

Good job.

[jen1722terry]

Very nice boot top, Captain.

Can't wait to see it up close in Maine this summer.

Jenn and Terry

[Jim Walsh]

Very nice boot top, Captain.

Can't wait to see it up close in Maine this summer.

Jenn and Terry

I hope this is the year I make it to Maine. In the mean time I've got the snowblower at battle stations.

[Keith]

When I purchased MOON DANCE 8 yrs ago the boot top and bottom needed a lot of work not to mention everything else. I'm not as fastidious as Jim but the results work for me. Here is what I use for paints. I choose them more for the color than the manufacturer. Both have worked out very well over the years.