All,

A month or so ago I decided to embark on a journey - build one of Tom Yost's SOF kayaks; a Sea Tour 15 with a slightly raised deck for my giant feet and 8oz polyester skin (courtesy of the immensely helpful Jeff at Kudzucraft). It's been a great experience, and overall has gone smoother than expected... but now that it's ready for a coating, I find myself with a problem.

Namely, nobody I can find (SE Michigan / Metro Detroit) has exterior oil-based tintable paint in anything but high gloss! So, I turn to the inexhaustible repository of knowledge here on the kayak forums... What's my best alternative for a tintable paint on an 8oz polyester? I really know nothing about the various types of paint, but I've gathered that oil based 'satin' finish is the ideal.

Also, as a side note, how does one deal with water leakage from the painters? There's plenty of notes on how to put painters on out there, but nothing seems to mention any waterproofing where they pass the hull.

Thanks!
Andrew