Over the course of the first two weeks of July, I tackled Froonie's boot stripe and cove accent. The application was straightforward, with the most labor intensive portion being the lay out of the tape lines. I had originally decided against the application of a boot top or boot stripe, opting for the more traditional bottom paint-to-topsides transition paint scheme. After consulting with a couple folks, and one full-time plastic classic restorer, I decided to apply some visual appeal to the topsides / waterline region. The traditional paint scheme that did not include a boottop or boot stripe was more of a working boat paint scheme, and Froonie would most definitely be a pleasure boat. The product I applied is Interlux Brightsides Boottop & Striping Enamel.
I began with lightly solvent washing the area of the topsides to receive the boot stripe, as well as the cove region, and then applied the tape line. I decided to "capture" just a bit if the pink topsides above the bottom paint (waterline) and the bottom of the boot stripe. This lower portion of the boot stripe was taped off following the planar waterline of the bottom paint. The upper portion of the boot stripe, and its tape line, also followed the planar waterline except for the approach to the bow. As the upper tape line approached the bow, I attempted to follow the upward slope of the sheer - starting 48" aft of the bow, I raised the tape line 1/4" every 12 inches. The reason the upper portion of the boot stripe / boottop follows the sheer's slope is for a pleasing appearance. Having the upper portion of a boot stripe / boottop stay planar would upset the eye as the sheer and boot stripe diverged from one another. Anyway, with the project now complete, I would have begun that rise a little further aft of the bow - say 60" or 72", rather than 48". Despite the luke-warm satisfaction, I think it looks fine enough to continue to work towards launch in August!
In this picture, the tape has been applied to create the boot stripe. What is not outlined as of yet in the photo below is the cove - a recessed accent stripe molded into the hull layup itself.
Here is Froonie's aft, her counter, taped off and with the first coat of the starboard boot stripe applied.
...working my way toward the starboard bow - first coat of the boot stripe.
...and finally, a picture illustrating the cove.
The picture just below is showing the completion of the first coat of paint on the boot stripe and cove. Over roughly two weeks, I would paint, hand sand with 220 grit, wipe lightly with solvent, and then reapply paint. Four coats of paint were applied to both the boot stripe and cove to provide sufficient coverage.
...after the fourth coat was applied.
Removing the tape was an exciting step in the process of applying the cove and boot stripe accents; the white paint provided a great accent to the rather large pink palette.
And now the finished product - port side!
...and starboard!
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