Painting The Interior

[commanderpete]

I finished stripping down the interior. No walk in the park. I originally intended to just sand down any flaking paint and rough up the rest. Didn't work out that way. Once I started sanding, more and more paint wanted to go.

What makes it difficult is that the surface is not smooth, lots of hills and valleys.

Here's how it looked after I sanded it a few times. The white areas is the old paint (low spots)

[commanderpete]

A few days after I finished sanding, more paint would start to flake. Back at it again. And so on.

I ended up taking off a whole lot of paint.

[commanderpete]

The brown, chocolate colored areas is a fairing compound I mixed with epoxy and phenolic microballoons. This covers the spots where I fiberglassed the bulkheads, corners and hull deck joint.

I also fiberglassed a new (lower) shelf on each side of the boat. This is the starboard side, looking aft.

[commanderpete]

Sorry, that was the port side. Here is the starboard side.

[commanderpete]

The starboard shelf has a cut out so I can open the drawer of the galley.

[commanderpete]

These photos are pretty bad. I used a disposable camera and scanned them.

I have a head with a holding tank. The hoses leading up to the deck were exposed. I'm building a little box to cover them. Still need to cut out the front covers.

[commanderpete]

Just about ready for painting.

You might be able to see a little of the original, green paint.

I'll be painting the interior the same shade of green. Both because I like the color and in the interests of historical accuracy.

[commanderpete]

Just kidding.

A coat of primer sure helps to brighten thing up a bit.

[commanderpete]

port side after primer.

[commanderpete]

I have one top coat on now.

[commanderpete]

I feel better now

[S.Airing]

Looks good,its so bright I need sunglasses!!Is the new shelf for the inverter and microwave?

[commanderpete]

I'll post some better photos soon.

Still have to do the laminate and put all the teak trim back on.

Glad to finish this job. Sanding the interior is no fun. Alot of tight spots and corners. Awkward and confined. Clouds of dust.

To use a respirator properly you have to mash it into your face to make an airtight seal. Leaves creases in your face for about an hour afterwards. Sorry, no pictures.

[commanderpete]

Don't know about an inverter and microwave. I'm mechanically challenged.

I figure the shelf would be handy for storing important items like beer coozies and bags of chips.

[S.Airing]

So I assume youll be done next weekend? Isnt your sailing season up in New York half way over?

[S.Airing]

Im with you Commanderpete,remember Ive been there.

[S.Airing]

Commanderpete you have the revised pictures yet?I hear there calling for snow next week in New York.

[commanderpete]

I'm working on it Steve, honest. You're a hard taskmaster, my friend.

I had to paint that ugly hole I've been calling a motor well.

[commanderpete]

I beefed up all the chainplate areas with fiberglass. Of course, now the chainplate screws are too short. I have some longer bronze screws and washers coming from Jamestown.

[commanderpete]

All the hatches needed painting. I used two part paint on the outside and Brightsides on the inside.

[commanderpete]

I think one coat of primer and one top coat is enough. I'm calling this job done.

[commanderpete]

Could have used a flash on this picture.

[S.Airing]

Hey Pete,these pictures are huge! What software are you using?Youve found something different.I really like the Commanders layout better than the Ariels.Must not be much headroom thou,Im 6'2'' but I a do agree with Mike I dont do a whole lot of standing below unless Im cooking.The doger lets me keep the hatch always open for plenty of head space for that.

[commanderpete]

For the new shelves, I have some nice 3" teak rails to front them with and keep stuff from falling off the shelves.

[commanderpete]

When I fiberglassed the shelves, I made sure the wood didn't touch the hull. I formed the brace underneath by using soft pipe insulation covered with layers of glass. The shelf is glassed about 4" to the hull on top, and about 6" below.

It's my typical fiberglassing job. A bit sloppy but tremendously strong. I had to sand down the lumpy parts and fair it (twice).

[commanderpete]

For those boxes to cover the hoses, the bottom one had to be as small as possible so that the cushion would fit. The cushions were not original, and had been cut to fit the hoses.

I had to reposition one of the hoses, using a hole saw to cut new holes, filling the old holes with the plugs.

I think I'll have to create a front for the bottom one out of cardboard covered with fiberglass. The top front will be removable.

Naturally, I'll trim the edges with teak molding so it looks purdy. :cool:

[S.Airing]

I cant wait to see the new cushions.

[commanderpete]

Steve.

I upped the pixels to about 1100, guess thats why the photos are bigger. No sharper, though.

Funny, I've been admiring the interior of the Ariel. Definitely no standing headroom inside a Commander. If you raise the forward hatch, you can stand up while you take a piss.

For the paint, I used the Brightsides I had left over from painting the hull. I thought about adding the flattening agent. A shiny paint shows the surface defects more. But, by the time I thought about that, I had already painted the hatch covers at home.

We'll see how everything looks when I have the covers on, the galley, the laminate,the cushions and the teak. For now I have to forget about the interior and get the boat in sailing trim.

I usually sail from late April into December. I'm suffering from severe withdrawl symptoms by now.