Getting ready to paint the logs - here's my plan...

[RonKMiller]

My logs are pitted and rough after 28 years of use in hard water, but in remarkable condition with just a few scrapes and bumps. Definitely not ready to be scrapped but not worth polishing, and I doubt if it would work anyway. My goal is to get them smooth again without much regard to how they'll look in the end. They just need to be cosmetically "acceptable".

From what I've read soda blasting them, and painting immediately would be the best route, but instead I'm going to re-do them in small sections after scuffing with emory cloth (it doesn't clog like regular sandpaper) and the garnet/aluminum dust should be easy to clean off afterward with a simple alcohol soaked rag.

I've been told to use a FLEXIBLE epoxy paint first to seal them, then paint a couple of coats of this:

http://www.epoxyproducts.com/aluthane.html

over top since it flows well and is easy to work with. The finish will not be shiny - more like galvanized - but I like the idea of having real aluminum flakes in the paint. Once I do my initial sanding I may bypass the epoxy all together as unnecessary? I'm going to paint the entire log and not just below the water line.

The whole idea here is to have a new and durable surface that will be hard for crud to cling to, I may even pick up a couple of knots of top end speed. I realize there is other paint out there available but at insane prices it is simply out of my budget for a boat as old as mine.

Any thoughts from you guys that may have used this or other paints - or any other helpful advice would be appreciated. This will be my first ever attempt at this type of project.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Ron

[HarryO]

Ron,

I have used Progressive Epoxy products for over 10 years. Their product line is excellent and their advice invaluable.
Paul is very easy to reach and is willing to impart all his knowledge on whatever your application may be.

[RonKMiller]

Thanks. It seems like their pricing is very fair, and I have a feeling the products they have are as good or better than most out there.