Painting a 54' Donzi Sportfish

Thanks for the tip. I tried but still got same error message that file is too large

Here's some updates and photos. I busted out the laptop just for you guys so I could post these

This is the cockpit freezer, tackle center and aft bulkhead now painted in final color. Also showing the forward mask which has now had a full fiberglass applied over the whole area.

The freeboard (except transom) is now final painted and clear coated. The dual boot top stripes were just painted on.

The bow deck is ready for paint and the transom is n final primer

So far I have shown you all the good mostly. I have shown the bad which is the forward mask although it was expected and well on its way to full restoration. Now here's the ugly that was not expected but has been repaired to better than factory:

When we removed the transom door and hinge we found some unexpected delamination where the fiberglass separated from the backing plate that is glassed into the transom.

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We decided to remove the entire backing plate and replace the whole thing. And glass the new one in better than it come from the factory. Once we got the plate removed I wanted to make sure no water or moisture got into the transom void behind the plate. So we cut a window our behind the plate for inspection. Fortunately it was bone dry in there.




The backing plate has been replaced, all glass work done and is in primer now. We will hang the door, Fit it for perfect gaps then drill and tap the backing plate once we locate the holes in the perfect place.



Sorry, my photos got out of order somehow. The first photo is the completed repair in final primer.

We actually removed a lot of stuff. The basic premise we used was if it comes off without heroic efforts then remove it. The items you are seeing that are taped off are either heavily bedded in 5200 or thru bolted or in most cases both. Many of the thru bolted items have the inside hardware buried behind head liner or joinery or other similar items. I decided not to take apart much of the interior to access these items. This is yet another reason I am staying with the original color.

Thank you, very kind of you.

I visited the boat in person yesterday for the first time since painting started. I was surprised at how involved the set-up and process is. From the massive scaffolding to create the tent, to the scaffolding inside the tent to access everywhere, protections everywhere, etc. I didn't take any photos as nearly everything is covered. They were applying final primer to the top and sides of the hard top as well as exterior sides of the flybridge. So everything else is covered and protected.

I decided to add the inside of the lazarette to the scope. Nothing other than loose gear is being removed. So they are scaping and sanding and working around equipment and wiring. I mainly wanted the laz and bilge freshened up. Also, to keep paint from flaking off and clogging my bilge pumps which has happened twice. I was starting to see some light surface corrosion on the big fuel tank and the stanchions in the laz. So those will get full sanding, primed with direct to metal primer then finish coated. The laz final paint will be bright white International 990 urethane. Same paint we used on the engine room. It is ultra bright and anything that gets on it wipes off easily.

I'll share more pictures when there is something to see.

The painting inside the lazarette is done. It came out pretty god for just doing a quick freshen up I think.

More prep work on the forward mask which is now in AwlFair. Also prep on the upper portions of the flybridge. We found another repair spot on the center of the upper flybridge where the hard top struts bolt to it. We cut the strut off to get them out of the way. Cut it all out and new fiberglass. Once everything is finish painted the struts will get welded back in place, bedded and bolted up.

Thanks CR! I suspect the painter stepped on it. No big deal, we will fix it.

I would say it's about 90% prep and 10% is actual applying of paint.

The rubber boot on the steering cylinder is actually fairly new. We replaced the whole system as part of the repower. It is covered in dust from sanding the lazerette for painting.