A Leap of Faith: Mitch’s Catamaran and the Power of Protection

In the late months of 2016, a middle-aged missionary from Perth received what he describes as a message from God. The calling was clear enough: he needed to build a boat to carry out his missionary work in Southeast Asia. What wasn’t clear were the details—only visions of things to come.

Yet Mitch James heeded that call.

With a background in building fibreglass boat at Glascraft boats, but none in sailing, Mitch began an audacious project: building a 13.4Mt (44 feet) Schionning catamaran from scratch in a modest warehouse in Bayswater, Western Australia.

What followed was eight years of relentless determination. Day after day, layer after layer of fibreglass, Mitch turned his warehouse into a shipyard. Today, the vessel looms so large it nearly brushes the roof of the shed that once held nothing but his faith and a vision.

Now, as the catamaran nears completion, Mitch is at the finishing stage that will determine how this boat endures its future—the coatings.

The Power of Protection: Jotun Marine Coatings (from Seacraft Paints, Fremantle)

Mitch kept his coating system straightforward but robust, using trusted Jotun products—all available at Seacraft Paints, Fremantle:

• Penguard HB (High Build) — 2–3 coats rolled with a 10 mm nap, then sanded to P240–P400 (P320 is a great all-rounder). Builds a smooth, easy-sand base with excellent adhesion.
  

• Hardtop Ultra — Above the waterline: 3 coats applied by roller with a 4–5 mm gloss nap, P320 scuff between coats for a flawless, glossy finish.
  

• Jotamastic 90 — Below the waterline barrier coat: 2 coats at 150–175 µm WFT per coat (≈ 120–150 µm DFT), giving 240–300 µm total DFT.

  • Rule of thumb: ~300 µm DFT achieves a reliable water barrier.
    

• Vinyguard — Tie-coat applied when the second Jotmastic 90 coat is thumb-print dry (ready to accept the next layer without being too hard). Typical 50–75 µm DFT; also extends recoat window so Mitch can finish build tasks before antifouling.
  

• SeaVictor 50 Antifoul — Applied just prior to launch to keep the hull clean, efficient, and ready for long legs at sea.

Together, this simple stack delivers the required 300 µm water barrier, long-lasting gloss topsides, and proven antifouling performance below.

Penguard HB (High Build)

Hardtop Ultra

Jotmastic 90

SeaVictor 50 Antifoul

A Vessel with a Mission

For Mitch, this catamaran is more than a boat. It’s a vessel with a mission—a leap of faith that began in Bayswater and will soon sail across Southeast Asia. His story is a testament to what’s possible when belief meets the right tools.

At Seacraft Paints, Fremantle, we’re proud to supply the Jotun system that protects dreams just like Mitch’s. Whether it’s a missionary’s catamaran, a fisherman’s pride and joy, or a weekend cruiser, the right system makes all the difference.

A Modern Noah’s Ark?

When asked when the catamaran will finally set sail, Mitch just laughs: “When it starts raining a lot.”

Could we indeed be witnessing the launch of a modern Noah’s Ark? Time will tell.

For now, the focus is on insurance and securing a berth at a Perth marina. Good luck, Mitch—we’re sure this remarkable vessel, protected by the Jotun Marine Coatings system from Seacraft Paints, will be ready for whatever seas lie ahead.

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Seacraft Paints – Unit 7/24 Mews Rd, South Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia • +61 8 9332 8141

Everything Mitch used is in stock. Drop in or call for product advice, WFT/DFT targets, and application tips.