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Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

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Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:09 pm

Getting very close to the point that I will start applying finish to my boat, I sealed and painted the bottom up to the chine before I flipped it (ran the sealer a little above the chine) and will be establishing the water line soon after I seal the rest of the hull (not doing any staining). My question is, where do I stop with the varnish at the water line, do I varnish to the paint, scuff and then paint the white belt line over the varnish?
Terry
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by JimF » Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:11 am

I would probably seal and varnish right down to the chine. After you are done varnishing, paint your waterline (sand first) and then sand and paint below the waterline with your bottom paint.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Tue Oct 01, 2013 11:35 am

So its okay to put the Interlux 2000E Barrier coat and Micron Extra 5692 red over the varnish?
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by JimF » Tue Oct 01, 2013 12:40 pm

No probably not. I understood that you just had paint on the bottom. You should put CPES, barrier coat and then paint below the waterline. Varnish would not allow the CPES to penetrate the wood.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Wed Oct 02, 2013 10:29 am

Have not painted to the water line yet, that was my question. I'm asking now, is it okay to paint over the varnish if I seal and varnish to the chine?
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by maritimeclassics » Thu Oct 03, 2013 7:27 am

I mark where the bottom of the waterline will be then CPES, barrier coat then paint to that. I then stain and varnish the hull to the bottom of the water line then paint my waterline over the varnish.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Thu Oct 03, 2013 8:39 am

Thanks, kind of what I thought but also thought it was worth asking... :)
Terry
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:53 pm

Don't know if you guys are familiar with scout boat but my niece is married to one of the owners of scout boat and they let me use their pool today to set my boat in so that I could mark the waterline. To my best guesstimate this is probably the first time this boat has been in the water in 40 years.
I have one more question, how far above the waterline do you normally put the white belt line?
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:59 pm

Tuobanur, the line is sometimes referred to as the "boot top" or "boot stripe." You should confirm with someone knowledgeable about your particular model as to the width and color of the boot top. There were lots of different colored ones during the later half of the say, '36-'42 model years, depending upon model. In some cases the cc promotional literature would mention the color. Some have erroneously assumed they are all white. For example, there was a shop memo around 1937 directing many of the smaller boats to use an aluminum color. Can't necessarily rely on Conrad's book as to boot top color, either. He says white for your model. maybe so?

Also interestingly enough, in many cases the boot top was placed at the factory higher than where the boat actually sits in the water, unloaded. Dont have a clue why, but it is the case.

good luck.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:20 pm

I might also mention that generally the very forward part of the chine will cross from the bottom to the side and would be varnished rather than painted like the bottom. Hard to tell exactly from your photo but it might be that the bottom paint is too high near the bow? tricky business, isnt it? that is a great little model!
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by JimF » Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:57 pm

Given that the waters we boat in these days are not as pristine as they used to be, I like to put the boot-top, or boot stripe, about 3/4" above the actual water line. This keeps the boot-top out of the water for the most part and since it is usually white, with variations as Don points out, it does not get as dirty as it might if it were actually sitting in the water. I also agree that the boot-top should follow the actual waterline and not the forward chine, although there were some boat brands (not Chris Craft) that did have the boot-top follow the chine. At the risk of taking abuse, I will include a photo of one of my boats incorrectly painted following the chine.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Sun Jan 26, 2014 7:31 am

for what it is worth here is a picture of my boot top. I was fortunate in that when we restored the boat we had the original bottom for a pattern so we just recreated the boot top the way it was. Notice that it sets up out of the water when there is no load in the boat. You can see where the boot top crosses the chine about, say one foot behind the cutwater.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Sun Jan 26, 2014 7:50 am

Here is the water line at the stern. Generally they run thru the lower part of the exhaust.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by JohnKadimik » Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:28 am

Jim....Jim....Jim....Jim......

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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by JimF » Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:54 am

Ah, there is the abuse I was waiting for!
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tkhersom » Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:58 am

This is a much later boat (1957), but you can see how it crosses the chine well.
ModDSC01521.JPG
The boot top is much higher on these boats also (crossing the center of the exhaust).
MosDSC04825.JPG
I suspect the high boot top may be due the the fact that you can load a utility to the point where the water meets the line.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:35 am

what a great boat!
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:26 am

Guys thanks a bunch, this is very helpful.
Man, what a feeling yesterday when I finally set my boat in the water, it doesn't get any better than that, it has been a long time coming and I could not have done it without the help of this forum.
Terry
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:48 am

You're welcome, Terry. The buzz is a fabulous resource isnt it?

Can i ask you as to why you are not staining? This is well beyond my expertise (non-existent), but perhaps others can chime in. I think one of the benefits of staining is to even out the variations in color of the various planks, etc. Perhaps there are other reasons as well. Might end up with a better looking boat with stain? Just a thought.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:30 pm

Actually like the natural look, saw one done this way several years ago and really liked it.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tkhersom » Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:48 am

Don Vogt wrote:what a great boat!
Don if this comment was directed at me THANKS! :D

If it was directed at Tuobanur, I am in complete agreement! :mrgreen:

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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Mon Jan 27, 2014 9:06 am

Well, Troy , they are both great boats but I was specifically thinking of yours. Here is a picture of one out our way that was restored by Don Hardy at payette lake, Idaho. CC was a little slower than century in incorporating auto styling and was a little more restrained, too (sorry Tommy). but I think they are pretty cool. You are lucky to have one. Very few around.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:29 pm

This is the boat I saw way back in 99 that inspired me, no stain. :idea:
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:46 pm

thx. as i say, whatever floats your boat,so to speak. the important thing in restoration is that you like it.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:00 pm

I like it! I like it!! :D
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tkhersom » Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:56 pm

WOW! Terry that is another good looking boat! I would really love to see a "no stain" boat up close. :D

Don: I love "Twin Finn"! Very nicely done. She is far more original than "Yorktown" even though she still has her original MCL. Not a rare engine, but not really common either. There is a second one on our lake "Hornet". Here is a GREAT story of a day I missed since we had some trouble getting in the water last year.

http://www.woodyboater.com/classic-boat ... %E2%80%A8/
Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

1957 CC 21' Continental "Yorktown" (Mom's boat)
https://www.chris-craft.org/boats/22625/
1985 Formula 242LS "Gottago"
1991 Formula 36PC "Band Aids"

Life Is Too Short To Own An Ugly Boat

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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Tue Jan 28, 2014 7:24 pm

Yes, Don Hardy did a great job on that one. The only thing preventing it from being a top prize winner is it doesnt have the original engine. I think even rarer is the capri version of the finned boat. I am not sure I have ever seen one in the "flesh". There is a pattern one here in western washington i have seen. More dramatic, i think, than the utility layout but the latter is a lot more practical. Did you ever try to figure out how many of the utilities have been accounted for? A good project for long winter months.
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tkhersom » Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:14 pm

Ya, I totally agree that the Capri is VERY cool! Only 44 made.

I have been drooling over this one for a while now.

http://www.carolinaclassicboatsandcars. ... tem_id=404

But, I want to buy about every boat I see. I have two Sportsman's available to me. One is a white sided one that I think would be awesome, and the other is a sedan with an MBL. My uncle also owns a 26' custom twin engine continental that will be available eventually. Of course right now the Connie is taking all I can give it and probably will until the day I die.

PS: While I am at it I will tease you with this one. It has a HEMI!!

http://www.carolinaclassicboatsandcars. ... tem_id=446
Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

1957 CC 21' Continental "Yorktown" (Mom's boat)
https://www.chris-craft.org/boats/22625/
1985 Formula 242LS "Gottago"
1991 Formula 36PC "Band Aids"

Life Is Too Short To Own An Ugly Boat

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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by Don Vogt » Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:45 pm

Great. The price on the capri seems modest, assuming it is in good condition. I think the big twin engine continental is another fabulous boat for a crowd. I would take it any day over a sportsman, myself. Why stop now. you only live once. go for them. Ha! always nice to dream, isnt it?
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Re: Where do I stop with the varnish at the water line

Post by tuobanur » Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:25 am

Forgot to ask this question, how wide are the boot strips normally, have seen several different? and are they usually an 1" or 3/4" above the water line?
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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