Just getting started on an xk 22 and want to make sure I have the painting process down. Hopefully people will see this since it looks like this is a new forum!

Make all repairs
Sand boat with 320
Primer
Paint
Sand with 600
Clear
Sand with 3000

There is a ton of info out there and I hope I'm not confusing any thing. I'll probably use 3M products for the repairs and PPG for paint. It won't spend more than a few days in the water at any given time, and I'll probably shy away from white because of the clear texas waters!

Post your Before Pics Merk!

http://s293.photobucket.com/albums/mm61/Merkfalc/

Here are a couple, I'm trying to locate some of the others before I took I started taking it apart. Haven't had much luck though.

make repairs, just prime and sand out your repairs not the whole boat.sand with 320,when everything looks good seal, wait 30 minutes, basecoat, wait 30 minutes, clear coat, if the clear comes out good leave it alone, if you have any dry spots or nibs in the clear sand with 1500 or 2000 and buff back up . you are just wasting time with all that sanding. get everything ready to go and plan a long day

Sounds almost too easy! I'm going to practice on an old bug I've been meaning to paint for awhile. Once I'm comfortable, I'm going to hit up the boat. I figure one weekend to remove everything and do any repairs. And the next weekend to paint. Thanks for the simplified version.

Merk.. Make sure you wipe down your whole rig with Acetone until your cloth comes back 100% clean about 15 minutes before you start spraying anything. That will serve to lift any particulates out of the 320 scratches/scuff and etch/soften the top layer of the old paint, and it removes any traces of wax that happen to be left behind. The real key is to be patient. I spent better part of 25/30 hours prepping my rig myself before hauling it off for new Gel Coat. My guy said "I've never had a boat as thoroughly prepped as what you brought in here." I think I've learned enough to take a crack at gel coating it myself next time, but hopefully there won't be a next time anytime soon!??! Good Luck!

Finally got a chance to start the tear down and it looks like I'm in for one heck of a ride! The fasteners holding the deck together are missing or completely loose on one side. When I took the rub rail off I found swiss cheese underneath it. There are quite a few stress cracks and a couple of through cracks. Nothing too serious, but it is definitely going to add some time. Ran into some rain this weekend and today, so hopefully I'll be able to get back at it tomorrow! I'm adding pictures as I go, hopefully I'll start seeing some progress soon.http://s293.photobucket.com/albums/mm61/Merkfalc/

if anyone is interested in one..pls PM me......

There is 1 in my neighborhood, it's classically beautiful.
You'll get lots of attention when it's back in the water.
The work will be well worthwhile.

Mercfalk, where are you located? I'm in San Antonio and have a XK-22 that I'm about to restore as well. This is a family thing, I grew up working on my dad's '73 which he still owns.