Mini Tunnel (Redesigned Version) Boat Plans
Page Fifteen
Finishing
The principal running surfaces of your tunnelboat are the sponson pads, especially that portion of them extending from the transom forward about four or five feet. You will want to spend some time on these, ensuring they are as flat as you can make them.
Use a straight-edge to identify the high and/or low spots. Fill the low spots with an epoxy/microballoon filler.
The bottoms of racing boats are typically finished clear.
Epoxy is always an excellent choice. You can also use spar varnish or even gloss polyurethane varnish. Keep in mind, however, that the varnishes are not meant to be continuously wet, so that where your hull rests on wet, carpeted trailer bunks, the finish will quickly deteriorate.
Apply the finish with a foam roller, then tip off lightly with a foam brush.
Three coats should be enough. Then sand it down, paying particular attention to the pads to make sure they are still good and flat.
If you have paint straying equipment, then you likely know way more about it than I do, and so I'll leave you to it.
Otherwise, paint is best applied with a foam roller, then lightly tipped off with a dry foam brush.
An oil-based polyurethane paint, like Rustoleum, provides an economical and durable finish, and is probably available at your local hardware store. There are also a wide variety of marine paints available, but at much higher cost.
Now get out there and show off your stuff!!
