Smooth as Butta

On a Fat Bottom Girl. The second shooting of Baltoplate was a huge success. Going back with the 220 grit sand made all of the difference. It put me back a few weeks, but the outcome was well worth the extra effort and expense. I ruffed it with a light 80 grit sand to help with the bond. It is by far the best bottom I have every put on and one of the best I have seen.


The heat broke last Thursday delivering temps in the low 80's and a nice cloud cover. I pleaded for no rain; the Grand Architect of the Univers  delivered. I also asked for Darby's assistance in putting on a good paint job which was delivered. 

I thought I could knock it out early but the taping and masking off of the boat took longer than expected. Go figure. It was after mid day before I donned the mask and fired up the gun. I thinned the Baltoplate about 30% with 355 thinner. I went through a quart of thinner to the gallon of paint applied. 


Even at 30% thinned this paint is pretty thick and clogged the vent in the top of the spray gun. I opened the hole and all went well. Pretty sure this was part of the problem before because I was going through paint at a much quicker rate this go round. It laid out nice and smooth with less overspray than before. By mid evening I had three good coats on. They felt better but the test would come in sanding it out. 


I started wet sanding Saturday evening. I wanted to give the paint a full 24 hours to dry plus the wet sanding is a big hot mess better performed in the evenings as it cools. I got most of the bow done on Saturday with 400 grit, then 600 grit and finally burnishing with bronze wool. I want back at it this evening and got most of the botom sanded with 400 grit. I hope to  get the rest hit with 600 and the bronze wool early this week so I can start moving pads. 


So far I have 3 runs that have mostly sanded out and 3 thin spots to hit again. I will get the thin spots when I shoot under the pads this week. That's the plan anyway. Any recommendation on what to put between the trailer pads and the boat after painting and finishing?  I was thinking some foam rubber with masking paper between the foam and the hull. I am not sure where to get the foam rubber. Any advice is appreciated. FBG in 2012!