Priming finished
Second coat applied last night, after proper curing of epoxy putty which covered few screw heads.
This time I diluted the primer a bit so it flowed easier and filled “orange-skin” surface left after first, thick application.
I am in a comfortable position, compared to fellow builders, since I actually like orange skin texture. This is what you get if you simply roll the paint with a roller, without tipping with a brush. I did the whole hull on Motoko using this approach and I was very pleased with the result. It adds a bit of light texture but otherwise is absolutely not visible on water or on land - if you don’t stick your nose very close to the boat.
Makes life much easier.
Masking tape removed to see the effect of bright sheer strake.
Transom, with strake ends. They look nice even now, with white paint, but eventually will blend better once I paint the hull black.
In case I decide, in the future, to revert to light-color hull I take pictures from many angles.
I decided to leave face of stem bright. I find oak grain - with bright medullary rays - very attractive.
It will be painted under the waterline but I haven’t established it yet so the whole false stem face is left bright for now.
I cranked the stove to reach 30 degrees, so that I can be sure that the last coat is fully cured by the evening.
Some house-keeping procedures before I leave: I’ve finished yet another batch of epoxy, adding rests to a new batch. Gravity assisted!
In the evening I will sand these few runs I got - but not orange skin! Should take just an hour.
Next step is top coat. I will brush it this time - it is single-component Hempel paint, black.
After that comes brass oval strips (hull protection) and I’m ready to turn the hull right-side-up!