Learning the Lines Barrier Coated His Trimaran with TotalProtect

Every boat owner keeps a project list, and most of us have one item that sits at the top for so long it starts to feel permanent. For Jordan of the YouTube channel Learning the Lines, that item was the bottom of his trimaran. He planned to even out the barrier coat on all three hulls before he trailered the boat north to Canada, and then a cross-border move and four busy years got in the way. In his latest video, It Took Me FOUR YEARS to Do THIS, he finally checks it off the list with TotalBoat TotalProtect Epoxy Barrier Coat Primer, a fall weather window, and a healthy dose of humor.

Chasing a Fall Forecast

With Canadian autumn closing in, Jordan knew his painting days were numbered. TotalProtect needs the product, the air, and the hull surface to stay between 50°F and 90°F (10°C to 32°C) during application, and the overnight lows had already dipped below that mark. The forecast showed temperatures climbing past 50°F by late morning and holding for a couple of days, which gave him the window he needed to get primer on the hull and let it start curing. Cooler weather slows the cure, but the boat won’t touch the water until next summer at the earliest, so time works in his favor.

Taking the Chill Off TotalProtect

Because the cans sat outside through a cold night, Jordan brought them into his heated RV to warm up before mixing. That step pays off, since TotalProtect has a high-build body that gets stiffer and harder to stir in the cold. When he finally opened the can, he noticed how thick the base was and felt glad he took the time to preheat it.

Stable Stands and a Spotless Surface

Before any primer touched the hull, Jordan made sure the boat sat steady. Stands he built himself support the main hull entirely, sawhorses sit under each ama, and four straps keep the trimaran from swaying. That setup left only a few small contact points uncoated and let him work around all three hulls from a ladder with confidence.

He scrubbed every surface he planned to coat and wiped it down with solvent. The hull already carried intact gelcoat and an older barrier coat in good shape, plus a few spots he sanded during earlier repairs, so he aimed to even everything out instead of building a barrier from scratch. Then, ready to roll, he realized he forgot the painter’s tape, a moment any DIYer will recognize as a rite of passage.

Mixing at an Easy 3:1 Ratio

TotalProtect mixes at 3 parts base to 1 part curing agent by volume, and Jordan measured 750 milliliters of base and 250 milliliters of curing agent, which matches a full quart kit. With the outdoor temperature hovering around 12°C (about 54°F), he expected a long pot life, and the technical data backs him up, since a mixed batch stays workable for 7 to 10 hours at 50°F. He tore a glove (and nicked his finger) along the way, so he swapped in fresh gloves and a new stir stick and got to work.

man mixing totalprotect on table outside

One Coat, Plenty of Coverage

Jordan rolled TotalProtect on straight from the can without thinning, accepting a bit of stipple in exchange for speed. The coverage impressed him right away, and after a single coat, he told viewers he doubted he needed a second. For his project, one coat made sense. He wanted to unify the color and seal the sanded spots over a hull that already carries a sound barrier coat, and because he sails a performance trimaran, he also wanted to keep weight down.

If you plan to barrier coat bare gelcoat or tackle blister repair, budget for more coats. TotalProtect forms a full barrier at 8 to 12 mils of total dry film thickness, which typically takes 4 to 5 coats with a 3/16" roller cover, 3 to 4 coats with a 1/4" cover, or 2 to 3 coats with a 3/8" cover.

man lying on ground painting boat bottom

Red Amas, a White Hull, and a Blank Slate Below

After he pulled the tape, Jordan shared his vision for the trimaran’s new look. He plans to paint the amas in Wet Edge Topside Paint in Fire Red, restore the gelcoat on the main hull and high-wear deck areas so they stay white, and paint the non-skid gray. He taped the ama waterlines quickly on purpose, since the amas ride higher than the main hull and barely touch the water, and he intends to lower that line a couple of inches when he sands and fairs before topside painting.

Below the waterline, TotalProtect now gives him a uniform foundation for the bottom paint that comes next. With the bottom wrapped up for the season, he’ll shift to the interior, which he can heat easily, and he may warm the boat from inside to bring the topsides up to temperature on borderline days.

The Morning-After Reveal

The next morning, Jordan walked out to find the TotalProtect dried smooth and even despite the cool overnight temperatures. It hadn’t reached full cure yet, but with months to go before launch, it has more than enough time. For him, the bigger win felt mental, since the project he carried in the back of his mind for four years now sits finished, with a clean slate ready for the work ahead.

Jordan's boat the morning after the paint was applied

Tips for Your Own TotalProtect Project

Keep the product, air, and hull surface between 50°F and 90°F, and avoid applying in direct sunlight.
Warm cold cans indoors before mixing so the material stirs and flows with less effort.
Prep thoroughly by dewaxing, sanding to a uniform dull finish with 80-grit sandpaper, and wiping down with TotalBoat Dewaxer & Surface Prep.
Mix at exactly 3:1 by volume, stir for 3 to 5 minutes, and let the batch sit for a 15-minute induction period before you thin or apply it.
Thin up to 10% with TotalBoat Epoxy Primer Thinner 200 for better flow, or skip thinning if a little texture doesn’t bother you.
Build to 8 to 12 mils of dry film thickness for a full barrier coat.
Recoat or overcoat with antifouling paint when the surface turns thumbprint tacky, and sand with 80-grit if you miss the window.
Keep spare roller covers on hand, since TotalProtect can break down solvent-safe covers over time.

Four years, one fall forecast, and one coat later, Learning the Lines has a trimaran bottom he can’t stop admiring. Follow along on his YouTube channel as he brings the amas to life in Fire Red, and when you’re ready to seal your own hull, pick up TotalProtect in gray or white quart and gallon kits.