Chris,

First - in speaking about 'protection' DON'T 'think cheap'. YES - shopping &
researching for the best deal and a product specific to the task is prudent.

There are products SPECIFICALLY designed for 'Barrier Coats'. These are
'task specific'. While not necessarily cheap, they are less costly then an
equal volume of WEST epoxy. Epoxy - no matter which GOOD brand {I use RAKA}
is a 'multi-task' item. While I get my epoxy in 3-gallon 'batches' {which I
find is a good balance for use & economy} you only have a 16-foot boat and
no 'future plans' for other epoxy uses. With that in mind, also remember
that you are doing repairs, then coating, a relatively 'non-absorbing' hull.
Rather then having to 'fill the pores' on a wood hull, then saturate the
cloth sheathing, you will only be 'painting on' a couple of coats of
'finish'.

Buying epoxy, or 'barrier coat', or good paint by the single quart is the
most expensive way to do it. If memory serves, good paint and un-filled
epoxy {as a 'finish coat'}will give about 400 sq.ft. per gallon. A 16-ft
waterline with a 5-ft beam is about 120 sq.ft. {While you are doing whatever
it s that you are doing, I'd add 'striking a waterline' and painting or
taping a 'boot top' to my list.}In this case 'More IS Better' - 3 coats will
be about 360 sq. ft. You should have more than enough left to do this after
the repairs. WEST is NOT 'cheap stuff', but readily available. Other brands
may seem cheaper . . . however, remember to add the shipping for a single
gallon 'kit'.

I'd use the same thinking for the paint topcoat. Typically, the cost of 2-3
individual quarts equals the price of a full gallon. 2 evenly applied finish
coats should use about a quart apiece. Nobody says you can't give a third
coat . . . especially if the boat will 'live' on the trailer and be subject
to the abrasion of repeated launch & recovery cycles, as well as weathering.
I also like to have some 'extra' available for touch-ups and the like. Buy a
gallon and 2 or 3 empty quart cans. Do all your work / painting. Decant the
remainder into the empty cans. Fill COMPLETELY and label, including the
DATE, seal tightly and store up-side down.

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

"Chris" wrote in message
.. .
SNIP
Based on my use of epoxy before I'd think using the epoxy for a barrier
coat
would be pretty costly wouldn't it? We're talking the same epoxy that I
use
for repair, just without any filler, or mat right - liquid only? How much
of that would you think would be required? Far less than for general
repairs?
SNIP