Repair and Mod Advise Needed.

[Tensho]

Just bought my first 23 foot Sceptre. Loved my father in laws so much I had to go out and get one. I am pretty happy with the one I found but I need some help with some items I want to repair and upgrade myself.

1. What is the best recommended way to strip the present bottom paint from the boat in order to give it a nice fresh coat. It seems that the boat has had several coats and they are all piled up. I have had someone advise me on a certain paint stripping agent for boats and then some people have suggest good old sanding. Any advise?

2. I need to manufacture a panel to cover the rear opening of the boat. Presently, it's a bit too open. I would love to manufacture some type of panel that would fit on the inside of the rear transom and provide some coverage.


Thank you.

[Ryank]

There are several great strippers out there on the market that are fiberglass safe. I would reccomend that, you may need to do several applications but eventualy it would get the job done, you may have to sand at the end but should be minimal. I can say Don't try to pressure wash it off as it will gouge holes through the Gelcoat, also if you decide to sand wear a mask, breathing too much bottom paint dust can make you very very ill for a long period of time.
Lots of things to do with the transom I went all out and enclosed my entire transom and put a bracket on, but was very pricey.

[EagleOCNJ]

I have used "Peel Away" on everal boat bottoms. So called Marine Peelaway at west marine, etc is a waste of $. Go to Home depot and get a few gallons of peel away 1 system and buy a couple extra packs of the paper that goes with it (they dont give you enough)

Trowel it on 1/8 or more thick and apply the paper on top let it sit for 12 to 24 hrs. 50 degrees minimum temp to use it.

dont just pull away paper like they say. I use a wallpaper scraper to help scrape the paint / product off as i go. I dont worry about a gouge or two in the gelcoat since i always interprotect or barier coat the hull when done to fill/ protect bottom before bottom painting.

In my opinion, it is the only way to do the job short of costly sand/soda blasting. i did my 26 shamrock, 27 albemarle, and im about to do my 23 seacraft.

I noted that the peel away 1 at depot says its safe on fiberglass so i called the factory to inquir why i need to spend 3x the amount on marine version- no valid explantion- maybe less harmful if it ends up in the h2o or sewer.

i always use blue 3m tape on waterline to avoid getting product on topside of hull. it will cost me 150 or so. put a tarp down, wear gloves and apaint suit. dont track it in the house on shoes orthe wife will kill me!

the job still sucks no matter how you do it but its waaay better than sanding!

email me w/ more questions

john

[Tensho]

John I appreciate the help. I have started already with the good old Marine peel away from West Marine, but after your advice I also think I'll be heading to Home Depot in the morning. I managed to get it on clearance for $18.00 a gallon. I am glad you mentioned the 50 degrees limit because I was going to go full blast on it tomorrow but it seems that the temp will be under 50 most of the day, if you can believe that in South FL. You recommend using the paper? I haven't been using that, honestly I just thought it made the clean up easier. I just placed a tarp on the floor.

I bought a nice 23 foot Seacraft but they must have placed about 10 layers of bottom paint on it over the years. I finally got the transom clean and I have about half of the 10 layers remaining on the port side of the hull.

I really appreciate your help

Thanks,
Tommy

[EagleOCNJ]

Tommy,
I do use the paper, I would say that it def. helps with clean up but also it might serve as a barrier to keep the product from drying up and becoming brittle on you. That is what happens when you leave it on too long.

If I was in S Fla Id do it anyway when its in the 40s to 50s. If I had those temps here now I could actually get something done. It just stinks that I need temp for everything that Im trying to do on the boat this off season!