Finally getting around to my ride's bottom

[Tim Gardner]

I moved the 19 into my garage last weekend after having pressure washed off all the old bottom paint I could last July.  (This repair was truncated by my Admirals dislocated shoulder one month before last year's CLR, and again by her subsequent incident in August and six months on the mend).

I discovered about 30 dime sized and several quarter sized blisters after her having been wet slipped 24-7-365 for 9 years with no attention being paid to her bottom.

I started sanding today and in two hours my arms fell off.  But, I did get some 80% of the residual old bottom paint off.





I used a DeWalt sander I bought at a Dead Guy's Garage Sale for $3.50 and jury rigged my shop vac to the bag port:



Worked like a charm.

I figure another 4 hour morning after my arms and shoulders recover and re-attach.

Then I'm going to prime the the blister craters with Smiths and Co CPES and fill with their thickened epoxy paste.  Two gallons of their high build epoxy barrier coat  prior to new bottom paint.

I figure 4 weekends. (I hope)  You can get info on smiths here http://www.smithandcompany.org/GRP/GRP.html

TG

[kickingbug1]

  tim, i sanded off the old bottom paint on "Audrey J" and what did i find a near pristine gelcoat as slick as a baby's butt. since i only trailer sail im gonna wax her up good and im ready to sail. 30 years old and still looks great. good thing, as this is probably our last boat. make sure you post plenty of pics when your project is complete

[Tim Gardner]

Update, No pics this time.  My arms reattached, I completed the sanding last weekend.  This afternoon I will be applying the penetrating epoxy sealer to the blisters uncovered by sanding then overnight in the heated garage with fans circulating to get a cure in the blister's remains.  Then Friday morning on goes the first high build epoxy barrier coat. Friday afternoon  the second. Then 3hrs later fairing out the blisters and dings with epoxy filler, &  Sat., light sanding of the blister repairs then the third and 3 hrs later the fourth barrier coat.  And on Sunday, 1st coat of hard anti fouling bottom paint.  Glad it's a 19 and not a 23 or 27.

The only part i haven't worked out is on the details of is doing the keel bottom.  I was thinking of just jacking up the keel on one end to get under it and using wax paper to keep the epoxy off the rollers when I lower it back down.  The problem is timing.  From the first barrier coat to the last step in the coating process I have about 72 hrs in all to get the first coat of bottom paint on over the barrier coats.

Busy 3 day weekend coming up, starting today.

[frank]

Try to enjoy the process....

Hard to do when your arms ache tho.....

Have fun