With the centerboard removed it was time to scrub. We scrubbed the whole boat down with Soft Scrub, brushes and Scotch-Brite pads. Soft Scrub is not safe for marine use, but it's fine for the back yard. It is a mild abrasive and will eat some paint, but that's great since we'll be priming and painting everything anyway.
Clean as a whistle, the stickers still need to be removed from the hull. I used Interlux topside paint about 16 years ago on the top. It held up very, very well considering the constant exposure.
You can't tell because of the glare but the inside has been scrubbed to the grey and yellow shades of the original mold and glassing. Gone are the black and brown oil and mud stains.
We left her on her back, so we can scrub, sand and prep the bottom next week. With the centerboard out she was much lighter but still very heavy. First we tipped her over from the trailer to her side, then we put her on her back directly on the ground. Since you can stand on the cabin I figured her weight should hold... if not this project would be over and I'd save a bunch of time and money. Luckily she held and we could easily raise the bow then came the stern. It was a 3 person job, Thanks Jason!
This weekend was a success with rain on Sunday the bottom prep will wait another weekend.
Progress- Looking good ! I would move it away from tree line so sun can help with dry out process, especaially prior to bottom paint and minimize mold settlement etc in any small area . Another Idea is to coat interior w/ West System Epoxy resin inside the hull. It is a 2 part system and hardens ( stiffens). This will make the hull bullet proof and crack resistent (forever) . I used it on our canoe and it lasts forever. Depending on the interior condition , if cracks or softness - this could be an option . Easy stuff to work with .
ReplyDeleteI am planning on coating the inside with West System, you read my mind!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the affirmation, at first I was thinking it may be overkill but for what is already a heavy boat a little more weight to increase stiffness shouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately the boat is gong to have to rest where it is for now until I can get the bottom done. It's already very dry and well covered. When I do the interior it will rest in the sun as it will return to the trailer.