Perfect varnishing conditions

The weather was perfect for varnishing. Not too cold, not too hot, not too moist. I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I also continued in my futile attempt to paint with Interlux Brightsides. This time I added some Penetrol on the recomendation of a chemist friend of mine. It definitely helped. I am not sure if I got it right yet but it helped.

Speaking of Brightsides, it is not only tough to apply but it was quite tough to sand off too. My sliding hatch was painted with Brightsides. It looked okay but since I want it to match the rest of the deck I sanded it down and will prime it with the rest of the boat. It took quite a while to sand off. At one point I went to pull off the sanding disc and found that the center of the hook and loop pad on the sander had actually melted itself to the sanding disc. No, I was not leaning into the sander particularly hard. It was quite hot outside in the direct sun and it was slow going so the pad evidently got too hot. No big deal I thought. The discs continued to stick to the pad so I carried on.

Well today, I went to start some sanding and I couldn't get the sanding discs to stick at all. Apparently, the little grabbers on the pad melted enough and after it cooled will no longer work. I had a spare so I was able to continue on but I am done with hook-and-loop discs. When I order next time I am going to switch to sticky pads. Funny, I have been using these hook-and-loops for the past three years of heavy sanding with no problems and in the past six months I have started going through pads. Three actually. Strange.

Anyway, after varnishing and painting in the morning I was out at the boat. I spent some time fitting the mahogony block that the deck water fitting will sit on. Curiously, the fitting didn't look quite right sitting perfectly vertical against the camber of the deck. It just looked better with a touch of lean to the outside.



And, because I love sanding so much and will miss it so terribly soon enough, I sanded the interior overhead liner in preparation for applying a primer coat. I also finished sanding up the taffrail, cockpit lids and a few other spots that I applied fairing filler to yesterday. Of course I found more little spots that could use some fairing. I suspect it will never end. At some point I may have to just say enough is enough and call it good.

Now I am late for a home cooked meal.

I'm outta here.