Viking 48’ Hull Refinishing Case Study
A local Stuart yacht owner brought in this 48-foot Viking Sportfish showing signs of severe fading on the gel coat and minor fiberglass blistering. The goal was to restore the vessel’s exterior to a better-than-factory finish using Awlgrip.
The Challenge
Large vessels over 40 feet require careful environmental control and thorough preparation. Florida’s heat and humidity mean paint window times are tight. Any moisture or dust trapped during the process would compromise the lifetime guarantee we provide.
Execution Details
- Sanding & Fairing: We stripped the old wax and sanded the hull down to the stable gel coat. All blisters were ground out, filled with epoxy compound, and faired smooth.
- Priming: Applied three coats of Awlgrip High-Build Epoxy Primer, followed by guide-coating and block-sanding to achieve a perfectly flat hull profile.
- Finish Coats: Sprayed three coats of Awlgrip topcoat in “Stars & Stripes Blue,” yielding a glossy, wet-look mirror finish.
The result is a highly durable shell that is fully protected from UV rays and saltwater degradation.