Have painted two of my boats with Awlgrip. Most of the time-consuming work, as with any paint job, is in the prep. The actual spraying takes just a few minutes. If you follow the procedures and materials that Awlgrip specifies, it can be DIY with good outcomes. When I hear of paying 10 grand to have a paint job done, it just seems way, way over the top. Paying someone $60 bucks an hour to sand is simply absurd. To paint my boat, a job which is getting closer to the top of the to-do list, I have figured well under $1000 for paint and materials. That's a long way from some of the numbers people are throwing around. With a little practice so you don't wind up getting curtains, fish eyes, etc., using a regular good quality spray gun, and a good organic vapor mask, IMO anyone can do his/her own Awlgrip job. I've done it outdoors when the conditions are right (although a big f$%^ing moth once flew right into the topcoat). Am also considering using Imron which is basically the same type paint at a slightly better price. Have painted a number of cars/trucks with Imron and think it is probably just as durable as Awlgrip. It also comes in some neat colors.
I just use a good fresh organic vapor mask. O2 supply is more for guys doing it on a regular basis inside a closed shop. Doing it outside IS a challenge because of bugs mostly. Awlgrip does take a few minutes to get tack free while you try to fend off the little buggers. It's not as fast as acrylic lacquer/ auto paint. Like I mentioned above, I was painting a cabin cruiser and just as luck would have it, there was BIG moth hatch. I ran around like a madman. The boat was partially under a tarp but one made it to the paint! Ouch. Nothing you can do but carefully pluck it off so it stops fluttering around. With a small compressor and a decent spray gun almost anyone can lay on a good coat after a couple of trials. Awlgrip really has some good instructions as to spray patterns, pressure, timing, etc. I've seen some "professional" jobs that have curtains, thin spots, etc. Some of them do no better than the job you can do yourself. As I find in many things, people are often more careful when doing their own stuff than a pro would be.
