EP58 - Refit Reality Check | Cold Weather Ends Our Deck Painting Progress
This week aboard our sailboat, we made huge progress on the deck refit — but the weather had other plans.
Our main goal was to prep and paint the rear deck, including the sugar scoops, helm stations, and transom alley. The process started strong: days of sanding, fiberglass repairs, fairing, and priming. Everything was ready for paint… until temperatures in Virginia dropped too low for proper curing.
So for now, we’re calling it “good enough” with primer — the paint will have to wait until we reach warmer weather farther south. It’s not the finish we hoped for, but that’s real-life boat work for you.
In between coats (and rain), we also tackled several smaller but important jobs:
⚓ Rebedding bolt rope rails to prevent leaks
🛠️ Rebedding safety rails for better security under sail
🔩 Replacing deck hatch latches for smoother operation
Even with the setback, it’s satisfying to see progress — and we’re one step closer to having a freshly finished deck when spring returns, or we get south to warmer weather.
⛵ In This Episode:
Deck prep & priming process
Cold weather challenges in Virginia
Rebedding rails & hatches
