December 1, 2022-Wings gets new Paint

Paint jobs on sailboats always look nice when they are new, but they don't last forever.

Especially dark blue paint jobs on heavily used race boats; like Wings.

In the years that we've owned Wings it's been painted three times: in 1993 we had Sterling sprayed by Seaview East in Seattle. In 2009 we had Awlgrip sprayed by "Oh", a Burmese refugee in Thailand (Oh was a young Burmese man who spoke no English and how he became a race boat painter is an unknown story, and how we found him is another story, but not for now. Anyhow he was really good at it.) And now we have gotten it painted for a third time.

That last paint job, in Thailand in 2009, was beautiful but 13 years of hard use and many dings and scrapes, plus endless exposure to the tropical sun had left Wings looking a bit dingy. We needed a new paint job.

Paint jobs are expensive. We'd saved some but not enough. The bids we got were far higher than the amount we had saved up. Plus, the painters and boat yards were all busy; nobody could get us in. And the time window before racing season was running out. I had almost given up on getting a paint job for Wings this year.

Then Adrian stepped up.

We've known Adrian for years . He's kept our bottom clean and the boat waxed. He also did a bottom job for us a few years ago. It was fine but I no feeling of confidence that he could do a topsides paint job; that is a big job and needs a big team with some real skills and experience. But I let him prepare a bid, what did I have to lose?

Adrian presented us with a competent bid for new topsides paint at a really good price. He proposed using Imron, which he has experience with.

"Wow, this is good, but can you do it in 21 days?"

"Let me talk to Antonio, my painter."

Next day he came back, "Yes, we can do it."

So I signed a contract with Adrian (Marvel Professional Boat Care), gave him a 50% deposit, and off we went to the boat yard.

Now, less than 21 days later, the boat is painted and it is beautiful. Adrian and his team worked hard and, I have to say, effectively. 

The paint job is excellent and we got all the other project finished as well (including rudder bearings and instrument through-hulls). Wings is back in the water and looking good.

Sometimes boat projects work out.

Click here for photos


Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Mexico