Good lighting makes all the difference when painting, no matter if you’re brushing, rolling, or spraying. To cut down on airborne dust, lightly dampen the shop floor or ground before you start. And if you’re working outdoors, think about the sun’s path. For best results, set your boat north to south so you can follow the shade: west side in the morning, east side in the afternoon.

Topside paints can be thinned with solvent to lower viscosity and improve consistency, making them flow more easily for rolling and tipping. Thinners, or reducers, come in several different types. Commonly, paints will have a different brushing/rolling or spraying reducer for optimal time for the solvent to flash off (evaporate). Certain paints may have a warm/cold weather reducer to optimize flow based on temperature conditions.

Always thin according to the paint manufacturer’s directions. Use the specified thinner in the amount suggested according to conditions such as air/substrate temperature and humidity. The goal is to only thin the paint enough so it lays down smoothly and levels out evenly, without runs, sags, or skips (holidays).

It’s a good idea to keep the thinner with you on the staging, so you’re prepared to make slight thinning adjustments while painting a section if the brush starts to drag while tipping. You want just enough thinner, so add only one capful at a time. Too much thinner will cause streaking.

If you’re applying a two-part polyurethane paint, mix the paint and converter first, taking care to mix these two parts thoroughly first. Then wait the designated induction time before adding any reducers or additives. Induction time refers to the initial slow stage in a reaction before the reaction accelerates. Induction times are typically required in two-part paints and epoxies after they are mixed but before they are ready to be applied.

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