Topsides Primer - 2nd & 3rd Coats

Over the weekend of May 15th and 16th, I applied the second and third coats of topsides primer - Interlux Epoxy Primekote. This two-part primer is a good product choice for cracked and crazed gelcoats (which Froonie exhibits), and serves as a great base primer for the Interlux Perfection two-part polyurethane topsides paint (which I will be applying). I simply did not apply the Primekote over an unprepared surface; just as in any great paint job, I spent many, many hours preparing the substrate for primer. Preparation included chasing out chipped patches of gelcoat, removing voids, filling with a mixture of low-density fairing filler and colodial silica, sanding the fairing compound (repeating those steps numerous times), and finally getting to a surface ready for primer.

As mentioned in a previous post regarding the topsides priming, I attempted to roll and tip the first application of primer. I quickly learned that the primer was not settling very well (primer does not settle well, plus it was very hot and windy, which did not help the flow properties of the primer). I had to take almost all of the first coat of primer off in order to rid the surface of brush marks, so really we are presently at 2.5 coats of primer :) So the subsequent coats of primer have all been rolled out, followed by sanding with 220 grit on a 5" Dewalt VS random orbital finish sander.

Here is the stern and engine well after the second coat of Interlux Epoxy Primekote

Another shot of Froonie's stern and engine well after the second coat of Primekote

Here is the port topsides after the third coat of Interlux Epoxy Primekote - looking nice!

Aft starboard topsides after third coat of Primekote - Perfection will look stunning!

Finally, here is a stern shot of Froonie after third coat of primer - some filling work yet to do with the surface under aft chainplate.