Painting the Boat

Things are coming along at the DeMellier Boatworks.  The dinghy now has coats of primer applied, sanded, and re-applied three times.  The spars have been varnished and rubbed with bronze wool and re-varnished four times.  The rudder, tiller and centerboard have also been given multiple coats of varnish.  The following pictures show the boat with it's final coat of primer and the brightwork (varnished parts) all but done.

The outside with three coats of primer

Since that picture was taken the outside of the boat has had two coats of boat enamel applied.  The basic color is a high gloss bright white.  There will be a blue stripe along the top garboard.

The spars with four coats of varnish.

 The spars are ready to go.  I am very pleased with the way they turned out.

The centerboard.

I decided to varnish the centerboard and the rudder because the wood looks so interesting especially where it was beveled creating the stripped look.

The rudder.

As I mentioned above the rudder has been given four coats of varnish.

The tiller.

Varnishing the tiller has posed the biggest problem.  It is curved and difficult to cover all the sides with the same application of varnish.  I tried hanging it up but it swings all over the place as I try to brush on the varnish.  I'm learning.

Last week I took delivery of a boat trailer kit (gotta love kits).  In just a few hours I had it all assembled.  Today I got a trailer hitch installed on Sonia's car and hooked the trailer up and drove it around the neighborhood.  I think it's going to work very well.

By the middle of September all the painting should be complete and we will be ready for a launch and maiden voyage.  That assumes my application to the Alabama Marine Police for a hull number comes through.  I need that before I can apply at the county courthouse for a license and boat ID number.  We gotta be legal!