Visit our Popular Forums

**knottybuoyz** · 16-06-2014, 12:56

Ah it's nice to be able to sit back, feet up on the desk, air conditioning on, Rum & Coke in hand and watch a pro work!

tartansail · 17-06-2014, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by minaret

Anyone know the old story about Bogie & Bacall's varnisher?

This one?
"Many years ago, when Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall owned their classic schooner Santana, their ship’s captain wanted to varnish the magnificent table in the saloon. The captain, Karl ,discovered that Bogey and Bacall would be out of town for the next week. He promptly sanded down the table, and laid on a coat of varnish. But it had dust specks in it. He tried again, still specks. He consulted other captains, who advised him to do as Mr. Urban suggests, varnish in his undies. Started over, laid on a coat of varnish, and still specks. Other captains agreed: it had to be dust carried on the shorts. So Karl, a beefy and hairy guy, wiped down every surface, wet himself with a damp towel, and started varnishing. He’d finished the top and was doing the under edges, spreadeagled on his back, stone naked and sweating, when Lauren Bacall slid the hatch open. They’d come home early. All she said, with great poise, was “I’ll come back later”."

**minaret** · 17-06-2014, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by tartansail

This one?
"Many years ago, when Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall owned their classic schooner Santana, their ship’s captain wanted to varnish the magnificent table in the saloon. The captain, Karl ,discovered that Bogey and Bacall would be out of town for the next week. He promptly sanded down the table, and laid on a coat of varnish. But it had dust specks in it. He tried again, still specks. He consulted other captains, who advised him to do as Mr. Urban suggests, varnish in his undies. Started over, laid on a coat of varnish, and still specks. Other captains agreed: it had to be dust carried on the shorts. So Karl, a beefy and hairy guy, wiped down every surface, wet himself with a damp towel, and started varnishing. He’d finished the top and was doing the under edges, spreadeagled on his back, stone naked and sweating, when Lauren Bacall slid the hatch open. They’d come home early. All she said, with great poise, was “I’ll come back later”."

I've heard a number of versions, but yes. The version I first heard had him hanging the table top upside down, which was where I first heard the concept, long ago. I've since been a big devotee.

Another bit of dust free lore I favor: I once did a bit of research on ancient Japanese methods for finishing fine China. They use special boats with huge drying racks on them, and do the hand painting and lacquering in the middle of a large lake. No dust, no bugs, etc. This prompted me to begin to convince owners of large yachts to take the boat out in the middle of Lake Washington when applying a final coat if varnish to their bright work. Works great. Sometimes those who've gone before us have already figured this stuff out, you just have to look and learn...

Warby12 · 17-06-2014, 16:25

Thanks again for sharing all of this Minaret, it's inspiring. I don't plan to do exactly what you do because I couldn't match it but it does raise my standards and expectation of what is possible with care and effort.

tartansail · 18-06-2014, 06:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by minaret

Another bit of dust free lore I favor: I once did a bit of research on ancient Japanese methods for finishing fine China. They use special boats with huge drying racks on them, and do the hand painting and lacquering in the middle of a large lake. No dust, no bugs, etc. This prompted me to begin to convince owners of large yachts to take the boat out in the middle of Lake Washington when applying a final coat if varnish to their bright work. Works great. Sometimes those who've gone before us have already figured this stuff out, you just have to look and learn...

This is a recurring argument I have with the admiral. She wants the boat ready to go when it gets launched in the Spring. I want to hold off on the bright work until we're on the mooring. Whenever I do it on the hard dust, pollen, and f'ing little critters seem to find their way into the finish. Mebbe your approach is the right compromise -- do the first coats pre-launch and finish up on the water.

**minaret** · 18-06-2014, 06:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by tartansail

This is a recurring argument I have with the admiral. She wants the boat ready to go when it gets launched in the Spring. I want to hold off on the bright work until we're on the mooring. Whenever I do it on the hard dust, pollen, and f'ing little critters seem to find their way into the finish. Mebbe your approach is the right compromise -- do the first coats pre-launch and finish up on the water.

Sure, you can have it "done" at splash. All you have to do is prep it and slap on one more coat in the water. On the mooring is too close to shore though. Get at least a mile from any land.

**minaret** · 26-06-2014, 20:05

So, we left off after having done 800 wet on the port side deck gelcoat. Now it's been dry guide coated and wet sanding 1000 grit begins. Note the last pics, where you can see a close up of what 800 grit scratches look like when you wet sand them all the way out with 1000. This is why dry guide coat rocks.

**minaret** · 26-06-2014, 20:13

1000 grit sanding is completed and final finish is done with the 3M 1500-1800 grit sponge, wet. Polishing begins. First stage is 3M Gelcoat Polishing compound, with Hand Glaze for the corners where even the mini buffer can't reach.

**minaret** · 26-06-2014, 20:18

Skipped the dry fit and layout for deck fill plates. Here are two, one in a solid block out, the other after decoring and filling. Check out that original deck thickness!

**minaret** · 26-06-2014, 20:25

Port side gel polishing completed. Final step is Farecla. Awlcare is applied after all paint work is done. No wax anywhere near the job till completion.