The skim coat process

After the contouring, there will be millions, ok hundreds, of pinholes in the surface.  I have used a method very similar to the method described in Wayne Hick's chapter 25 to fill these and large scratches. I use a fast epoxy with about 5% by weight microballoons added, apply with a squeegee, wait for a while and then remove as much as possible.  This fills quite well and also hardens the micro substantially, as well as it serves as a water barrier.  I sand with 120 grit, which is quite easy as the layer is very thin and only the small bumps from the ends of the squeegee has to be removed.  This has proven to be a much better way, although quite labour intensive, than the roll and tip epoxy coat I applied to the floats.  Several skim coats are recommended, but I have decided rather to sail this summer than to achieve a piano finish.

 Skim coat on aft cabin area

Making pad for the starboard cabin top winch

 For the mast foot

I used Jotun's high build primer for the floats.  This was filled with aluminum and also impossible to sand.  So I was recommended the Hempel stuff, but this proved impossible to source.  So I use a regular epoxy primer (made primarily for use as a water barrier on polyester hulls) and add approximately 20% by volume/2% by weight of microballoons.

Cockpit still with the skim coat only. 

I'm sanding the high build down with 180 grit and finally see how well I succeeded in contouring the patchwork.  At least I found some irregularities on the port bow...

I'm getting closer anyway.  And a wise guy stated somewhere, probably on the f-boat forum, that you never finish fairing a boat, you just decide to stop at some point.  I'm not far from that point now.