Shooting the Topcoat on a Cat

[vientoman]

So here's a somewhat minor but worrisome issue that I have not yet worked out:

Since the application of a topcoat involves a minimum of two coats with a 30 to 45 minute flash time in between, when painting the cabin and decks of a catamaran, how the heck does one go about painting the various parts of a without having to walk on the first coat? Is it common practice to break the topcoat application process into accessible "zones" that are done over the course of a few days and if so, how is it possible to avoid having to create tape marks between areas that are yet to be painted?

Here's a link to my F-44SC builders log: trying to have here finished by mid summer 2013.

F-44SC Catamaran

Would it be neccisary for me to rig up a system like this:

Close Call - Mission: Impossible (5/9) Movie CLIP (1996) HD - YouTube

Seems like a foolish set of questions but I haven't really been able to work out a spray plan just yet.

[bstreep]

Usually, a non-skid pattern is painted a different color. That gives you an area to walk on, and the non-skid can be rolled on.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by vientoman

So here's a somewhat minor but worrisome issue that I have not yet worked out:

Since the application of a topcoat involves a minimum of two coats with a 30 to 45 minute flash time in between, when painting the cabin and decks of a catamaran, how the heck does one go about painting the various parts of a without having to walk on the first coat? Is it common practice to break the topcoat application process into accessible "zones" that are done over the course of a few days and if so, how is it possible to avoid having to create tape marks between areas that are yet to be painted?

Here's a link to my F-44SC builders log: trying to have here finished by mid summer 2013.

F-44SC Catamaran

Would it be neccisary for me to rig up a system like this:

Seems like a foolish set of questions but I haven't really been able to work out a spray plan just yet.

LOL! Sometimes, yes! We rig extra high scaffolding all the way around the boat and then lay long scaffold planks across the boat where necessary. Obviously that often isn't an option with a cat due to the beam. But just having scaffolding all the way around allows you to reach much of the deck without being on the boat. Nonskid areas can help, but it's risky. When I shoot I have a full time hose-tender who's job it is to run my hose, making sure it never gets tangled on anything and never hits wet paint. I also have a full time mixer who mixes paint so I never have to stop to do so. He is also the light tender (low angle lighting is critical for a good shoot). We still get a hose in wet paint occasionally. When shooting a big hull you often have to spray a blend at bow or stern and polish it as you would a repair, but generally you can find a way to avoid this on superstructure and decks. Don't forget to start with a tack coat before shooting your two flow coats! What colors are you shooting?
I have seen much hull fairing done in shop on rappelling harnesses on boats over 100' in length. The biggest fairing board setup I've seen used like this was a six-man! The board is also suspended from the ceiling. When we built Cascadia we made one that was weighted and had ropes with pulleys in all directions, running on an overhead rail. We faired the whole 77' hull upside down with it. It was awesome.