When applying two-pack or epoxy paint to flat surfaces, it’s helpful to use a roller, as it will apply the paint more evenly, and faster than a brush. But you need to bear in mind that the paint will slowly dissolve a gloss roller, so have a few ready to change as soon as you see them begin to break apart. If you’re after a good finish, apply the paint by roller, and then ‘tip off’ with a good-quality brush.

Take a look at our Tip of the Day series for more great boat owners’ tips such as reefing early when sailing downwind, how to clean battery spills and how to decraze a compass bowl

Find more painting tips in the PBO Projcet Boat Handbook

When the team at Practical Boat Owner magazine bid on a 23ft eBay wreck, little did they know what they were letting themselves in for! The ‘yacht sail boat project’ in need of ‘painting and refitting’ was charmingly understated.

When they collected the 1960s fibreglass yacht from a farm in deepest Dorset the hull and deck were thick with lichen and moss, the cockpit floor was rotten through and she was sprouting a nice crop of nettles. In true PBO spirit, editor David Pugh, exclaimed ‘look at her potential!’

After a gruelling three-year restoration, which included sneaking the mast through the window of a gardening magazine at night, Hantu Biru was ready to launch. It would be the first time she’d seen water in 25 years!

Written by David Pugh and Ben Meakins, the Project Boat Handbook is the culmination of 100s of hours of work, 37 step-by-step articles and thousands of words, which appeared in the British boating magazine. From priming and painting to engine installation, overhauling the keel, repairing fibreglass and wiring the mast, every task is recorded in meticulous, and often humorous, detail (warts and all). Whether you’re restoring a boat yourself, or simply enjoy a good yarn of triumph over adversity packed with tips on everything from rigging to rudders, PBO’s Project Boat Handbook is the essential DIY companion for every boat owner.

Take a look inside the Project Boat Handbook or buy it now for £9.99 on Kindle