This post is geared towards the new boat owner. I can look back at my earlier endeavors to repair/paint etc. and can easily say I've made damn near every mistake possible! An example is when I tried pushing a varnishing project by painting the sixth coat later in the evening. The moisture in the air caused clouding and I had to start the project all over again 
It's been talked about on this forum extensively, but there are basic rules everyone can follow to save themselves time/money.
1) Prep work: The most time consuming and difficult part of any project (Probably 90% of the time needed for any project). As a newbie, I was impatient and took the easy route, or avoided steps. This would always cost me time and money when I had to redo the project a year or two later. Think of a simple screw hole in a cored deck-drill a bigger hole, fill with epoxy, then drill the smaller hole through the epoxy. The epoxy step takes an extra day, but it will prevent an extremely costly core replacement. Following the directions on the can, or advice on this forum, is the key for success.
2) Pay the extra money for the better/correct part. This relates to the above. After doing all the prep work, you want all that work to last. Example: Interlux Brightside vs Interlux Perfection. Sure the Brightside is cheaper and easier to apply, but I would prefer to avoid the prep work to repaint a project every five years vs fifteen.
3) As a DIYer, I've learned that's there are occasions when it's worth it to pay for a professional. A lot of times this decision is based on the fact I can't afford the tool to do a certain job. The other is safety. Right now I'm having the pro do the exhaust on my hydronic heater. I can't weld. I could do it with a clamp, but the consequences of failure is death. Simple decision.
Obviously, if your rich, paying someone to do the work is easy. I don't have that perspective. I don't want to make this to long, but would love to hear others perspective and additions to the list.
It's been talked about on this forum extensively, but there are basic rules everyone can follow to save themselves time/money.
1) Prep work: The most time consuming and difficult part of any project (Probably 90% of the time needed for any project). As a newbie, I was impatient and took the easy route, or avoided steps. This would always cost me time and money when I had to redo the project a year or two later. Think of a simple screw hole in a cored deck-drill a bigger hole, fill with epoxy, then drill the smaller hole through the epoxy. The epoxy step takes an extra day, but it will prevent an extremely costly core replacement. Following the directions on the can, or advice on this forum, is the key for success.
2) Pay the extra money for the better/correct part. This relates to the above. After doing all the prep work, you want all that work to last. Example: Interlux Brightside vs Interlux Perfection. Sure the Brightside is cheaper and easier to apply, but I would prefer to avoid the prep work to repaint a project every five years vs fifteen.
3) As a DIYer, I've learned that's there are occasions when it's worth it to pay for a professional. A lot of times this decision is based on the fact I can't afford the tool to do a certain job. The other is safety. Right now I'm having the pro do the exhaust on my hydronic heater. I can't weld. I could do it with a clamp, but the consequences of failure is death. Simple decision.
Obviously, if your rich, paying someone to do the work is easy. I don't have that perspective. I don't want to make this to long, but would love to hear others perspective and additions to the list.
Last edited:
