It was a lot of fun grinding all the 5 layers copper paint off the bottom. Apparently the previous owner hadnt heard of like metals and how they react to eachother. There was minor pitting in a few spots but I repaired the areas and any suspect rivets I found.Here it is after I got all the pieces together.
Once I got all of the copper paint off I sanded the rest and put two coats of rustoleum metal primer on the outside of the hull.
I used a oil based primer and finding an oil based paint locally was a pain. I had enough flat marine oil paint for the top coats but not enough to do the base coats. I ended up going with the only oil paint I could find which was a gloss paint. Gloss is a harder paint so it didnt hurt my feelings any. In the end I left the bottom were the boat sits on the water in gloss. Im hoping it will help it slide over the seaside mud some. When wet its slick as owl sheet.
Two coats of gloss.
I didnt get a picture of the sides or bottom with the flat but here is the interior and bow. I had just enough paint to do what was visible with the false floors installed so the area under them didnt get painted yet. The guy I bought the motor from had an extra cowl for the motor so I painted one to match the boat.
I bought the blind with avery grass on it for $30 from a co worker. The grass is a bit worn but Ive gotten a few pieces from hunting buddies to patch it up a bit. The local hunting store did have one pack of the mid season grass and it does blend a lot better with our marsh here so I bought it. When they get some more I'll redo the other side, but for now I'll park with the bad side to the marsh.
I added a rope from the attachment point on the bow to stern on both sides and zip tied the grass and burlap to it. This should keep the blind from coming in the boat on the bottom when the wind blows hard, and it keeps the interior a little more open.
I have some grass to go over the top, bow and stern. Im in the process of coming up with something light enough not to cause the blind to sag but still support the top pieces so we have something to get under when the birds are working, and to reduce the "black hole" in the middle of the blind.
Thanks for looking.
