A lot has happened within the past few weeks! After deciding to sand the existing bottom paint instead of removing it, projects started picking up speed.

First, before sanding the bottom, I wanted to get rid of the ugly yellow-ish waterline stain. After trying many different products over a period of several years, I decided to try TotalBoat’s White Knight Stain Remover. Holy smokes - it is truly like magic! Following the directions, I painted on the liquidy-gel substance after hosing down the side of the boat, and within only a minute or so, I could see a difference. Once I washed it off and gave the area a light rub with a cloth, the stain was completely gone. It looked so good, I went back and treated the whole topside, not just above the bootstripe. It did not harm the paint (2-part) or decal lettering at all. After YEARS of trying to remove the ugly stain, White Knight took care of the problem immediately!

After that, I sanded the bottom with 60- and 80-grit sandpaper, sanded the newly-finished centerboard, and painted both with two coats of Pettit Trinidad XSR black bottom paint. It nearly broke the bank, but I have always had good luck with the Trinidad line and hope this will give me at least three full seasons of protection.

Interlux stopped making the bootsripe paint I always used, so I went with Epifanes White Waterline Paint which came out great. I also did something I have never done before: I used TotalBoat TotalBuff Boat Rubbing Compound on the green topsides. Wow - quite a transformation! The chalkiness and mottled disappeared, and after applying TotalBoat Podium Finish Marine Polish, it looks like I just put on a coat of paint.

This past week, I worked on putting everything back in the cabin, and just today, I brought her up to Niantic where, with help from my father, she went in the water and is happily resting at her mooring. The 2025 sailing season has begun!

Final Work and Launch

Nathan Bayreuther