From Old to New

When we bought our trawler, we knew one thing right away - she was going to need paint. 

Years of sun had taken their toll. The gelcoat was chalky, cracked, and chipped in several places, with bare fiberglass showing through. 

It wasn't just about making her look good again - it was about protecting the boat for the adventures ahead. This wasn't a quick weekend project. It was weeks of sanding, filling, priming, and painting. Every step mattered. 

Here's how we tackled it: 

✔️ Thoroughly washed years of dirt, oxidation, and grime from the entire boat. 

✔️ Used a Dremel, flapper wheels, and drill attachments to remove all the cracked, loose, and damaged gelcoat. 

✔️ Filled and faired every damaged area using West System epoxy. 

✔️ Sanded... then filled and faired again... then sanded again until everything was smooth. 

✔️ Washed the boat once more before sanding the entire exterior to create the perfect surface for primer. 

✔️ Applied a full coat of 

TotalBoat Primer: 

~ White on the topsides 

~ Gray on the hull 

✔️ Sanded the primer, washed everything again, and finally started painting. 

The Colors 

Topside: 

~ TotalBoat Wet Edge - Hatteras Off White One coat (about 70% complete during this post) 

Hull: 

~ TotalBoat Wet Edge - Flag Blue Two coats 

Boot Stripe: 

~ TotalBoat Wet Edge - Kingston Gray (3-inch stripe) 

Bottom Paint: 

~ Two coats of Sea Hawk Cukote Black 

We still have to finish the top side - But the transformation has been incredible. It's amazing what a little elbow grease...okay, a LOT of elbow grease...can do. 

There's still work ahead before we start the Great Loop, but seeing the hull shine again makes every dusty, sweaty day worthwhile. 

If you're restoring an older fiberglass boat, hopefully our experience gives you a realistic look at what's involved. It isn't glamorous, but bringing an older boat back to life is incredibly rewarding. 

Thanks for following along as we prepare for our Great Loop adventure! 

Products Used 

West System Epoxy 

TotalBoat Primer (White & Gray) 

TotalBoat Wet Edge - Hatteras Off White 

TotalBoat Wet Edge - Flag Blue 

TotalBoat Wet Edge - Kingston Gray 

Sea Hawk Cukote Black Bottom Paint 

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