Stalled paint job

[hgoldstone]

My husband and I are novice boat owners. We started the job of stripping and painting the deck and cockpit of our 1973 Typhoon this spring. So far, the entire deck has been sanded and faired, and a couple of nasty spots of rotten core have been replaced. However, for medical reasons, we are unable to finish the job this summer. Does anybody know of a good boat handyman in the Upper Cape area that might be able to do the painting? Alternatively, how much damage would we likely do to the fiberglass if we left it unpainted this summer? Thanks!

[Troy Scott]

Hi,

Unpainted fiberglass deteriorates rapidly in sunlight. The manufacturers of epoxy resin state in their literature that 15 months is maximum. I don't know the limit with polyester, but I think it's probably less. I would at least mix some white gelcoat and put a light coat on the bare areas. Failing that, just use a good white primer paint on the bare spots. Use white because it uses titanium dioxide as a pigment, which is a great UV blocker. That should get you through the season. Of course, if you don't plan to use the boat, you could just cover it with an opaque material and not worry about it until later.

[Cathy Monaghan]

One option is to purchase a poly tarp and cover the boat until you can start working on it again.


Fair winds,
Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay