Boat masking AND prep work »  WE highly recommend that you remove masking tape as soon as you have finished applying .... The largest part of painting a boat bottom is all the prep work

The amount of prep work you do is important. If you don't fix the dents now, the final paint job will make every flaw stand out tenfold. Remove all hardware and fixtures from the surface of the boat, including cleats, pulleys, lights and rub rails. If you don't remove all the trim, water could get into the gaps where the trim meets the paint. Before you sand, always wear a breathing mask. Fine dust and fiberglass can get lodged into your lungs, causing irritation and potential health hazards years later. Depending on the condition of your boat, you may begin sanding with course grit sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block. Use long, even horizontal strokes. When you're done, the boat will feel rough, but even. Then switch to higher grit sandpaper, 200- to 240-grit. The boat's surface will begin to feel smooth. Fill all dings and mounting holes with good epoxy type putty and sand it down flush with the surface. Use a very high-grade sandpaper, about 400-grit, to finish the job. When you're done, your boat's surface should feel very smooth and soft. Remove all the dust with a clean soft towel.

Boat Deckings »

	Boat Deckings