Paint before seats??

[tomstock]

Hi, I've been neglecting my weekender lately and feel like I should continue work. There's an employment layoff comming soon, and although I feel like I shouldnt be spending time on the weekender right now, I also feel like I should at least do something with it otherwise it could end up one of my many unfinished projects. So.... I've decided I should install the seats this weekend.

Now, I'm building outside and my boat is under a tarp. I've had a few problems lately with water getting into the boat, which makes me think I should get it painted inside asap. Buying a new tarp would probably solve this too since the water is comming in through small holes which have developed in the tarp over time.

Should I paint before I install the seats? I'd like to paint after if it's possible. Like I said, I wanted to get the seats installed this weekend and I'm not sure if I'll have time for both. Painting I could do anytime after work during the week. If I can get the seats installed and get it painted, I can flip it over and work on the bottom which will also help with the water problem.

Also, is there a fairly inexpensive high build primer I can buy somewhere like Home Depot ior Lowes? A specific brand would be helpful. Should I go with a latex or a polyuerethane?

Thanks

Tom

[Frank Hagan]

Its much easier to paint the inside hull sides prior to putting in the seats, but you don't have to. I ended up painting after construction, and I spent some time with the brush and roller, lying on my side, reaching from the cabin in under the seats. Got paint in my hair, but it really wasn't that bad. In your case, where turning will help with the water infiltration, I'd build and paint later.

For interior spaces on a boat the "Exterior" latex paint will do fine if you want to go that route (I did, and my only regret is that the latex is softer than an oil based paint, so it tends to scratch easier). I used deck paint. With latex, you really only need one coat over the primer; if you decide to do multiple coats make sure the underlying coat is completely dry before re-applying, and doesn't dent with a fingernail. I recoated too quickly and ended up having to wait an inordinate amount of time ... something like 3 - 4 weeks ... before the paint was cured enough not to scrape off easily.

Match the primer to the paint you choose. There are other methods, but that's the safest way. If you're using Home Depot's Behr Deck and Porch Paint, for instance, use the primer they suggest for it.

I used latex on the exposed surfaces such as the hull also, but I now think an oil paint would have been more durable. There can be compatibility problems with oil based paints and epoxies, so you have to be careful when you get to that point (there's a "scratch test" you can use to see if the paint and epoxy is compatible.)

Anyway, long post. Short version is I would build the seats, and turn the boat to protect it better from the weather.

[ken connors]

i also installed the seats before painting. it would have been much easier to paint first, but i wanted to keep building. i just painted under the seats recently and did a pretty sloppy job, but what the hell, whos gonna see it? go ahead and install em now if thats what it takes to motivate you toward completion.

[Charlie Jones]

Hey- Install the seats, flip the boat. THEN raise it high enough to comfortably sit under it, and paint the inside of the lockers, etc while seated on a bucket or chair.

That's exactly how I painted the 18 foot Sharpie I built

Seriously, it's really easy to get under decks, etc that way.

[Simon]

I'd certainly recomend painting before you install the seat tops. It did slow things up a bit, build-wise, but in the long run its the faster, easier route.

I took Frank's advice and put a layer of 'glass on the bottoms of the lockers (where water might collect), coming an inch or two up the wall before painting.

I admit it was hard to resist the urge to put the seat tops on before painting. Good luck with your choice.

[capt jake]

To each there own, there really isn't a 'right' way to do it. I did as Charlie said, though it was very tight in there on a Weekender!!

[tomstock]

To each there own' date=' there really isn't a 'right' way to do it. I did as Charlie said, though it was very tight in there on a Weekender!! [/quote']

Well, I picked up the wood I needed along with some extra boards for stringers, and a new skillsaw to replace the one that self destructed. That empties my boat fund for this week, which pretty much makes up my mind as to whether I'll paint first or not. No money left for paint! Sooo... looks like I'll put the seats in this weekend, and do lots of bondo and sanding. I'll paint it next weekend if I finish the bondo.

I've decided to try to leave feet space under the rear of the seats. I think it'll make sitting more comfortable at the tiller.

Thanks

Tom

[Pat Mellema]

Tom

When I was building I did not paint any of the interior. When it was time to paint the forpeak and cabin interior I built a set of 4' sawhorses to set the boat on. I was able to stand up and paint the forpeak and cabin interior. It was easy to paint the cabin roof and the forward lockers on the seats. It was worth the effort doing it that way.

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[tomstock]

Well, so much for finishing the seats in a day. If you havent done your seats yet, plan for TWO days. It's quite a bit of trial and error. I thought I only needed one sheet of 1/4" ply but it looks like I'll need at least two. Maybe even more.

I was only able to get the seat fronts and divider installed, but didnt finish all of the stringers, tops, or backs.

Looks like I'll probably paint before I screw down the seat tops.

Tom

[Barry Pyeatt]

When you reach the point that everything is fitting the way you want it to, then pencil in the contact lines on the seat tops and mask them off. Then prime and paint all the interior possible, including the underside of the seats, before you put the seat tops on. You'll not be sorry! Take the time to be certain that everything is finished the way you want it, because you won't be going back in those spaces unless something is dramatically wrong. If you are installing flotation behind the seat backs, finish off the hull sides and underside of the deck, the back side of the seat backs and the stringers before you close up that area as well. Then place the flotation. Same with the lazerette area. You can reach it to do things before you finish putting the seats in, but after they are installed it is a real pain to try to work in that space. :cry: :x :evil:

If you need to do anything for your steering, install it first as well. Same thing with any wiring that you plan to run into the lazerette from anywhere else. Once the seats and backs are installed, you won't be able to get back there to work easily, if at all. :twisted: Same thing with any motor mount you plan on installing that may require a backing plate inside the lazerette. Do it before you finish and close it up.

I ran PVC electrical conduit under the deck from the cabin back to the inside of the lazerette for my electrical lines and placed a pull string in it to enable wire pulling later on. I did the same thing from the main bulkhead into the forepeak for the electrical wiring to be placed. Makes things a lot simpler to plan ahead and install it before you don't have access. :idea:

If you haven't figured it out, I'm a strong advocate of making things easier and allowing you to make things finished off to prevent potential maintenance headaches down the road.

So...my point of view is to finish as much of the interior and place all of the necessary screw holes before finishing the hull on the outside. One heck of a lot easier to move around before it gets all closed up.

Putting the hull upside down in an elevated position makes a lot of sense to finish the underside of the deck and the cabin top. I had mine high enough that I could reach it easily to finish things off before I finished installing the hull sides. Then did all the rest of the interior finish work as I went along. One other difference I've made in construction sequence is to wait to install the lower rub rail until after the hull is glassed, I prefer that glass to be as continuous (one piece) as possible. Get all of that ready for paint and then place the lower rail. I will finish the lower rail before installing it as well. So it is finished on all four sides before installation.

Hope this helps in your thinking a little. :wink:

[Simon]

Well' date=' so much for finishing the seats in a day. If you havent done your seats yet, plan for TWO days.[/quote']

Are you kidding? :shock: Jeez it took me about two weeks just to install the uprights, then one night I layed out the glass in the bottom of the seats (see my post above), looked at the shop clock, and thought "well its getting a bit late, I'll mix up the resin tommorow and finish the glassing ..." Two MONTHS later I pulled out the as-yet-unresined-glass and carefully combed out all the accumulated leaf matter and sawdust (from the boat crib amongst other things) and got set to resin it. I think that's called "life intervening in your well laid boatbuilding plans ..."

Right now I have the seat tops installed and am waiting for a moment to begin painting behind the seats, should be ready for some dry sailing (from the completed seats) by next Christmas if I'm lucky. Also the missus wants me to build tin (corrugated galvinised iron) canoe, in the proud Aussie tradition. Anyone ever build one of those? The latest Australian Amateur Boatbulder has an article on them, which reckons you can build one in a day for $AU40. They look bloody swish, with the corugations giving a clinker-like look to them, a wooden stem and sheer (somewhat more than a gunwhale) take the looks from very backyard to nearly showroom floor IMO. Might try find a pic or two to post here.

[tomstock]

Well' date=' so much for finishing the seats in a day. If you havent done your seats yet, plan for TWO days.[/quote']

Are you kidding? :shock: Jeez it took me about two weeks just to install the uprights, then one night I layed out the glass in the bottom of the seats (see my post above), looked at the shop clock, and thought "well its getting a bit late, I'll mix up the resin tommorow and finish the glassing ..." Two MONTHS later I pulled out the as-yet-unresined-glass and

Unfortunately I'm building outside so time is not my friend!! Nor is rain for that matter which has been the problem lately. Cold, Cold Rain.

I've only had water in the boat twice, which isnt bad for working in florida and covering the boat with a single blue tarp. There was some discoloration of the wood but no major damage.

Tom