Start :: Assemble pieces and jig :: Stitching the hull :: Fiberglass outside of hull :: Fairing and priming the outside of the hull :: Building the inside :: Final finishing
Final fishing
Prime the inside of the boat with high build epoxy primer. The inside of our boat is painted with System Three LPU topcoat (Whidbey White). The tops of the seats and the casting deck have non-skid finish.
Now we flip the boat over and give the outside more attention. For a work boat finish, simply sand the primer and paint. For a yacht quality finish, we use Sterling topcoat. For all painting, we use the roll and tip method of application. Click here for our detailed roll and tip tutorial.
Glue on skeg. It is valid to do glue the skeg earlier in the build. We view the skeg as sacrificial.
Paint bottom with epoxy/graphite. The bottoms of most of our small boats (some larger ones also) are finished with several coats of epoxy resin with graphite power mixed in. This makes for a very hard, durable, and waterproof coating.
Be sure to tape off your nice paint job before epoxy/graphite coating the bottom :). We mix in about 25% to 30% graphite to mixed epoxy. For a 6 oz batch of epoxy, add 2 oz. graphite for a total of 8 oz of product. It is crucial that you use epoxy compatible roller covers! Roll on 3 thin coats for the final finish. (NOTE: All three coats should be applied the same day. You do not want to sand epoxy/graphite, its hard and extremely messy).
We finished our FS12 with a boot stripe of the same S3 paint from the interior. A stainless steal bow eye and a couple cleats and she is ready for the river...
