Paint-Mare!

Started painting on friday with the "high performance exterior primer" from International, it contains alumnium flakes and is supposed to protect the wood very well. However, yesterday morning I found that it does not stick to epoxy, as the undercoat started fetching it off the fillets at the seams as I brushed it on. Quick check with a white spirit soaked rag and found that took it off as well. Lots of swearing ensued. I then spent the remainder of saturday sanding, wiping down with cloths and scrubbing the paint off with pan scrubs soaked in white spirit. The alumnium flakes got everywhere and stained the underside of the outwales and afterwards the boat looked a right mess. I was not happy.

I decided that because the varnish was sticking well I primed the outside of the boat with varnish and then painted two coats of undercoat on top. This appears to have worked so far. Wanted to start glossing tonight but because of the temperature drop this evening the under coat was still tacky. So it's another early start to do it in the morning.

After all this, sea trials have been delayed until wednesday. Just one day prior to the Scotland trip. Here's hoping there will be no more setbacks!