Caprail Refinishing Project

After ten years of minimal maintenance, the caprail is showing its age and wear. It is made of a composite material and painted, not teak like many boats have. The caprail actually needs little annual maintenance to keep it looking good. Several years ago I put on a clear coat and that is wearing off. Now it’s time for a complete refinishing, including replacing the caulking. This is a picture of the clear coat wearing away.

The process involved removing the caulking, sanding and prepping the caprail, then painting it, and finally caulking. In some places I would apply the new caulk before painting. I tried a two part epoxy primer and paint but found that it wouldn’t properly cure in the breezy conditions we have here. It looked great when it was first applied, then cured to a dull matte finish. I ended up using a single part polyurethane paint from Total Boat, slightly thinned, and applied with a foam roller. Here are some pictures in process.