Author: Don Barker

Oct 22, 2024 | Deck and washboard paint for the 1925 Smith Island Skiff

Another sunny morning on the boat shed porch.

School kids visiting the Small Boat Shed watched Jim mix paint for the fore deck and washboards of the 1925 Smith Island skiff. For this first coat, he mixed in Penetrol into the Marshall’s Cove marine paint to about 30%.

Jim trained us in good roll-and-tip technique. Dip just the tip of the brush into the paint. Don’t use the brush to lay on paint; only use the roller for that. Use the tip of the brush to flatten the paint by brushing toward the edge of fresh paint.

Gordon joined our team this week and got to work scraping the 1920 Smith Island skiff.

Oct 8, 2024 | Barge done. 1920 skiff out. 1925 skiff epoxied.

We moved the Barge back into the Small Boat Shed to go back on exhibit. We moved the 1920 Smith Island skiff out onto our work porch and set the Barge on display in its place.

We moved the 1920 Smith Island skiff out on the porch and got right to work cleaning and scraping.

While Tom got started sanding the 1920 skiff, Jenn, Jim, and I worked penetrating epoxy into rotted sections of the 1925 skiff’s transom, coaming, deck, knees, frames, and bottom planking. When we ran out of Smith’s, we thinned West System epoxy with alcohol to complete the job.

Aug 7 & 13, 2024 | Barge bottom cleaning, topsides paint. Skiff scraping.

Lots of progress today on the outside of the Sharptown Barge.

Bottom prep first to get it ready for painting next week. Finished the sanding. Then used a blower to get dust and grit out of the seams between the bottom planks.

Then we taped the waterline and rolled and brushed primer onto the transom and sides. Learned correct use of alhohol and tack cloth – wipe in one direction only.

Our first primer effort was with a nap roller, and the paint was not thinned enough. This was a big mistake that would have to be corrected next week before finish coats.

Next week we start work on the 1925 Smith Island Skiff. The previous CBMM conservator said that when it arrived at CBMM decades ago, the paint was in excellent condition. All of the checking and cracking happened over time while it was stored out here on the porch – not even out in the weather.

Took measurements for a platform to set inside and protect the bottom planks while we work.