I am about 90% done on a boat refinishing project, a little 12 foot jon boat, and I just finished my oars. I thought about painting them, but my canoe paddles would always have scratched and worn paint marks on them that made them look beat up.

Since I will be using this boat for duck hunting and fishing, I needed a dull type of finish for the oars.

I had dipped the oar handles in "DIP IT" a few nights before, and the black vinyl coating was pretty tough, and was a matte black surface. "DIP IT", for those who are scrathing your heads, is a vinyl material that you can use to coat the handles of your tools, like wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.

I ran to Home Depot (my second home) and bought some of the spray "DIP IT" and after a light sanding to break the glaze of the varnish, I sprayed the entire oar with the spray "DIP IT", while hanging it from the oar lock. The next day, I painted three extra coatings of the regular "DIP IT" on the bottom 4 inches of oar that would get the most abuse after masking it with tape, and then followed up with two more coats of spray on the lower oar. The oars look great, and after two trips out on the lake there are no dings or scratches to be seen.

I also installed a new plywood floor and I put in some of those two inch wide grip strips, sandpaper grit with a sticky backing, for extra traction. I stapled them down to the floor in case the solvent in the "DIP IT" affected the adhesive backing, and then after thinning the "DIP IT" with some Naptha, I painted the floor sections with four coats. I re-installed the floor sections with stainless steel hardware, and that floor is awesome. It is all non slip, matte black, with the added traction of the grip strips.

I bought the boat for $150, and I have put another $150 or so into it, but it looks brand new. Not bad for a 34 year old boat. Luckily for me the previous owners had taken good care of it.

Next and last project, setting up a removable duck blind frame made of PVC.

If anyone has any any suggestions for that, I would be greatful, or if you have any questions on your own boat refinshing, let me know, and I may have some helpful hints for you.

Andy

[ 08-14-2001: Message edited by: Dogfish ]

You know my wife used to give me massive grief about fishing too much, but then I painted her with "DIP IT" and now it's all good

Tight Lines
Paul

God, that is funny!!! Actually, there is a great use for "Dip-It". That is to balance your bobber and other long rods. Just attach a stack of quarters (or nickels, depending on rod handle width) to the butt of your rod with strapping or duct tape, then coat the stack and the lower 4 inches of the rod handle with about three coats of "Dip-It". The result is a perfectly-balanced rod.

I was waiting for someone to come up with the idea of dipping their favorite body part for a lifelike cast of said part, but I never thought of dipping the entire wife. Still got two cans left. Let ya know how it turned out. I'm guessing she will have to shave first. Her legs!

Andy