Beau and Brandy Sailing Rebuild their Hull

Last we checked in with Beau and Brandy Sailing, they were revamping their boat hatches and tackling the usual DIY boat life challenges with a healthy dose of humor and determination (read that blog here). This time, they’re taking things to a whole new level, literally stripping their sailboat’s hull down to bare fiberglass in a massive effort to make their floating home “stronger, safer, faster, and looking better than ever.”

What started as a one- or two-month haul-out quickly spiraled into a full-blown hull restoration after discovering cracks and pitting in the fiberglass. As Beau puts it, "Boats have a way of rewriting your plans."

From Sanding to Fairing

After taking the hull all the way down to bare glass, Beau and Brandy launched into hours of hand sanding—first with a longboard and then the hard way, by hand. Once the hull was faired smooth, they used TotalBoat TotalFair Epoxy Fairing Compound to even out the surface. Beau is quick to point out that nothing beats a quality epoxy system for long-term durability.

Barrier Coat: Epoxy Armor

With the surface prepped, the team wiped everything down using TotalBoat Dewaxer and Surface Prep—a critical step before applying the TotalBoat TotalProtect Epoxy Barrier Coat Primer. They used the two-rag method for a spotless surface, mixing up small batches of TotalProtect (3:1 mix ratio) and thinning it slightly with TotalBoat Epoxy Primer Thinner 200 to improve flow.

"An epoxy barrier coat is a crucial defense layer that protects a boat's hull from water intrusion and the devastating effects of osmosis blistering,” Beau explains in the video. “This added layer not only extends the life of the hull but also reduces maintenance costs and potentially structural repairs down the road.

He’s not wrong. Applying a high-quality barrier coat is one of the best ways to ensure your bottom paint performs and your fiberglass stays dry.

Bottom Paint and Boatyard Logistics

Once the barrier coat was cured (and applied in multiple coats using mohair rollers), Beau and Brandy moved on to bottom paint. They rolled on TotalBoat Spartan, a multi-season ablative antifouling paint, starting with blue and topping it with black for durability and visual tracking. With rain in the forecast and the yard’s lift out of commission for a while, the team hustled to get the rudder back on and every inch of the hull coated.

Even the yard manager noticed the improvement.

“The hull didn’t flex as much when he lifted us,” Beau says. “That’s probably because we laid down that epoxy fairing compound and the epoxy-based barrier coat. We made the hull stronger without even trying.”

Ready for the Next Chapter

With the rudder in place, the antifouling applied, and the hull gleaming with fresh protection, Beau and Brandy’s boat is looking better than ever. Their candid look at the ups and downs of DIY boat work in a remote location is relatable and inspiring for anyone tackling a big boat project.

To follow more of their journey—and get real-time updates—you can support Beau and Brandy Sailing on Patreon or subscribe to their YouTube channel.