2023 Haulout

My fourth haulout in Port Townsend!

If you are looking for a yard in Puget Sound where you can literally get ANY boat project done, this is the place. I've hauled out in Port Townsend in 2006 (mast), 2019, 2021, and again here in 2023.

This year I'm finally taking on the decks which have just about worn thru to bare fiberglass. 51 years of use have also added a fair share of spider cracks to the gelcoat. This is a ton of work (dremel, sand, prime, paint) so I was looking for help. I found the Smalz Paint shop on the east end of the yard, so I booked then back last Fall for the first two weeks of June. Looking to save money where I can, I offered to dremel and fill the spider cracks before arriving. The gelcoat non-skid is in great shape since I redid most surfaces that in September 2019.

In addition to the deck paint, I needed to:

1. Finish re-gelcoating the deck under the canvas and along toe rails, bow, stern and various other spider cracks.
2. Sand and repaint hull
3. Patch keel join
4. Fix weeping rudder
5. Clean and paint propeller, add zincs
6. Buff and wax hull

1) The remains of my 4 year old gelcoat cans have been kept in my dockbox and worked great. I expected degradation of the chemicals but using the 14 drops of MEKP to 1oz of waxed gelcoat in 70deg temps kicked off like new. The cans were almost full and kept at a fairly cool temeratures. I did a few tests before applying to confirm it would still kick without adding extra MEKP which might make it brittle. To apply,I used single use paint brushes with half of the bristles trimmed off. This give the brush a stiffer feel and helps to work the gelcoat deep into the non-skid.

2) I rented a vacuum sander from Admiral Supply for a day for $64. Dusted it off and applied one coat of West Marines CPP ablative paint. It's made by Pettit and Practical Sailor gave it good reviews so I have been using CPP for a few years now and been very happy. This year, I had a bit of growth. I'm not sure if the guys ran the high pressure sprayer more than usual, or the chemical composition changed, but the paint did not last on the rudder. I plan on applying three coats in the high wear zones.

3) Despite my best effort to seal the keel join with multiple layers of epoxy i still get a slight weeping when on the hard.

4) Same goes for the rudder in multiple places.

5) This year I've applies Prop Coat Barnacle Barrier, another Pettit product. I'm not real optimistic but it should last a summer (maybe).

6) I've hired Joe Garcia to buff and wax the topsides.

DAY TO DAY TASKS

Day 1 Thursday
Haulout
Removal dinghy/dodger/lines

Day 2 Friday
Sanding deck
Removal dorads/cleats
Clean up stantions/teak/prop

Day 3 Saturday
Dremel/fair
Prop clean
Cleanup port lights
Rent sander

Day 4 Sunday
Clean teak eyebrows/stern
Sand hull
Bottom paint

Day 5 Monday
Return sander 8:00
Gelcoat test
Paint prop

Day 6 Tuesday
Sand deck/cabin
Marinetex deck/hull

Day 7 Wednesday
Sand deck/cabin
Buff/wax hull

Day 8 Thursday
Prime deck/cabin
Buff/wax hull

Day 9 Friday
Prime deck/cabin
Buff/wax hull

Day 10 Saturday
Day 11 Sunday

Day 12 Monday
Gelcoat deck
Epoxy keel
Bottom paint
Deck paint
Spot paint next to supports

Day 13 Tuesday
Deck paint
Gelcoat deck
Epoxy keel
Paint bilge
Move supports

Day 14 Wednesday
Deck/transom paint
Sand rudder
Gelcoat deck
Bottom paint touchup

Day 15 Thursday
Full bottom paint 3rd coat
Bootstripe
Stern paint

Day 16 Friday
Rudder paint
Bootstripe
Launch

MORE INFO

• Anthony Smalz Paint 347.399.4708
• Joe Garcia Buff and Wax 360.270.0700
• Mike Johnson Fiberglass 661.435.8543
• Barry Stephens Machine Shop 360.531.0627
• Admiral Supply 360.379.9921
• Port of Port Townsend 360.385.0656