1972 SN Promo Project

8122pbrainard wrote:

Puller it is!

Tim I think I'm going to try a little sanding today just because I have the materials. Every time I look into chemical strippers I get 1000 different opinions and they're all based on knowing what type of paint is on the bottom. Beyond that they are all very expensive and not available in small quantities around here. Being on the lake Michigan shoreline there are many marinas and boat supply stores available. I've called many of them and even my friends that have sailboats. I will definitely end up trying some sort of stripper at some point but I'd like to hit it with sandpaper and see what happens.

I'm just talking about the stuff you can get at Home Depot, don't overthink this. I removed some paint from gelled scoops a few months ago and it was highly effective. If you got that much off with 800grit you're not dealing with a serious bottom paint. Wet sanding that entire hull with 800, 1000 and 1200 would not be fun.

You guys might be on to something with this chemical process.



Video 22

TRBenj wrote: I can't see what you're seeing... Post a better pic? When you start sanding through thin gel, it normally looks like little black spots showing up.

I'm seeing black spots!! Yes, Chris has sanded into the glass.

TRBenj wrote: I can't see what you're seeing... Post a better pic? When you start sanding through thin gel, it normally looks like little black spots showing up.

8122pbrainard wrote: Chris, I'd have to say that the PO who painted the bottom already did some sanding especially on the transom probably in an attempt to sand out the blistering! Now, do go with the stripper since the gel is so thin.

Yes this certainly is a setback. Gelcoat was the ONE thing I wasn't willing to redo on this hull. I've been thinking about it for a couple of days and came to a few conclusions.

1. I may have been a little too aggressive with the sanding since I wasn't prepared for the gel to be so thin.
2. I will absolutely be looking into chemical strippers to minimize the gel loose from sanding/buffing.
3. I'll probably approach the rest of the boat with more of a 3M buffing mentality than a wet sand mentality. I'd rather have a slightly lighter orange gel than have fiberglass that needs to be patched.


I won't be able to spend any time on it until early December due to work and the holiday. I ordered a small batch of marine paint stripper to try after hitting it with a little acetone.

Yea there is actually a lot more curve in that area than one would think.

Chris,
I've been fixing your videos so they will play back in the Forums.

When using the TUBE BBcode for your videos, just include the video code (leave off the http://youtube ...part. They your videos will play properly.

The is how is should look:


Great job! Thank you so much for sharing.

-Keith

Strippers is a little harsh, I prefer to call them Peelers

A little video for Chris - thanks for the help today MAN! (I meant splined, not geared...)

As you can see, Steve an I got a little time at the garage today and I was able to try a chemical stripper on the bottom paint.



Video 22

This is going to be a loooooooooooong process removing this crap.

It's February in Wisconsin, which means it can be frigid cold, warm, rainy, snowy, windy, or calm on any given day, hour, or minute. Luckily, yesterday was about 41 degrees and calm winds..........perfect for stringer and foam removal.



Video 24

I wanted to get a time lapse of the entire foam removal but it was just cold enough to kill the battery on the GoPro.



Time Lapse


The conditions were perfect so I just kept going. I was a hot mess........literally. I had the plastic suit on and the respirator and I was sweating my a$$ off. I cant even imagine doing this in the summer. I forgot to video the aftermath of the material that I removed. Among the foam, fiberglass panels, and rotten wood I managed to fill 16 large garbage bags. And that wasn't even including the 6-7 bags I took from the right side foam last week. If you're planning a stringer job, probably a good idea to research a waste removal system that will take the trash.



Video 25


The next phase is the obvious sanding and grinding.

1. What is everyone's advice as far as flap discs vs grinding wheels?

2. How much fiberglass should be removed?

3. I'm pretty sure the forward lifting ring hardware needs to be removed, but it's in bad shape. Are there replacements or is it time to fire up the old Bridgeport?

Nice! That helps. I'll get a better look at it when I grind it out tomorrow.

KENO wrote: Duane, I must say, I'm rather disappointed that you didn't whip up some exotic bracket out of a solid chunk of aluminum or SS even if part of it is under the FLOOR

KENO, Sometimes we just have to go outside our comfort zone!!!

I'm on a roll this week and got back to the boat to start the grinding. If you don't want to hear me whining and complaining about being covered in fiberglass for 10min straight, skip the next two videos. Couple of notes about today:

1. I put up the $40 and got a diamond grinding wheel for the angle grinder. I figured it was either that, thousands of harbor freight flap discs at $2 a piece, or hundreds of name brand discs for $8 a piece. So far so good. I barely put a dent in it after a solid day of use.

2. A pre-filter for the shop-vac would have been a good idea. I emptied my vac 3 times over the day and had to shake the filter out every 10min of use.

3. The hull is insanely flimsy with the stringers and foam removed. It feels like I'm going to put my hand through the side when I'm grinding.



Video 26

After the day of grinding I was cold, itchy, and had a very bad outlook on life.



Video 27