So the information on the BRIGHTSIDES by Marq peaked my interest so I started some searching on the web.

Found a guy (Tim Lackey) that painted his boat with Brightsides in March/April of '99. I asked about durability, gloss retention, etc. Here is what he wrote back to me:

<<I have experience with Brightsides. It is fairly durable, but is
nowhere near as colorfast as Awlgrip. Dark colors begin to lose their depth
after a couple years, and the high gloss that is present immediately after
application tends to lessen after a year or so. The finish becomes more of
a satin-type gloss--still glossy, but not with the intense depth and shine.
As a result, I think Brightsides is more successful in lighter colors.

For what it is, Brightsides is pretty decent paint. But it won't hold up as
successfully as Awlgrip.
>>

So... just a little more food for thought. Haven't looked into Awlgrip, but seeing that Marq mentioned it too, that might be something to look into.

Nevertheless I love the experimentation and the DIY attitude displayed with this technique. Kudos to everyone in the process.

For me, until I get some better info on marine paint, think I am still leaning towards Rusto because of availability, price, and availability of spray cans for hard to reach places (door jambs, engine bay, etc).