Help! for a New Owner of an Old Boat

[GoFish]

First time on this forum (mostly a surf guy) and I could sure use some help. Purchased an '81 Steiger 21' last fall and am trying to get it painted and ready for the season. It appears to have MANY coats of paint, and I'm trying to sand it before painting using an orbital sander and an 80-grit paper. IT'S KILLING ME! Looking to be a twenty-hour job. Any pointers to speed the chore?

Also, should I be filling the dents and dings in the fiberglass before I paint? With what?

Any suggestions appreciated, as I clearly don't have a clue what I'm doing. Thanks!

[MrHunters]

welcome to s-b i think.... for a first timer you racked up 71 posts pretty quick

i bet she's gonna be purty when you are done.

[MrHunters]

oh wait new to the boat fishing and boating forum.

duh... you got me by dividing this place into separate entity's... i have suggestions but im sure they are all wrong so i'll keep them to myself for the time being.

good luck though. post pics!

[taJon]

Welcome. Good luck with the boat. she should be a workhorse for ya.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by GoFish

First time on this forum (mostly a surf guy) and I could sure use some help. Purchased an '81 Steiger 21' last fall and am trying to get it painted and ready for the season. It appears to have MANY coats of paint, and I'm trying to sand it before painting using an orbital sander and an 80-grit paper. IT'S KILLING ME! Looking to be a twenty-hour job. Any pointers to speed the chore?

Also, should I be filling the dents and dings in the fiberglass before I paint? With what?

Any suggestions appreciated, as I clearly don't have a clue what I'm doing. Thanks!

I'd check the forums at ClassicSeacraft.com & ClassicMako.com for those topics too - lots of good info.

Many layers of different kinds of paint means little chance of a chemical solution beyond sanding. You could find a place that does soda blasting or shell blasting but then you would need to paint a layer or two on of underwater paint before going to anti-fouling (if you intend to slip the boat). You need to be real carefull of any power sander too so that you don't blow through the paint and into / through the gelcoat. In fact, an older boat like that when you get to the bare hull you might want to put some special layers of material to prevent blistering.

If you plan to trailer then you are looking at soda blasting, fairing, blister layer, then gel coat or a good paint....

http://www.diybob.com/HotBlister.htm

[nightfighter]

I assume you mean bottom paint, not paint on the topsides. If bottom paint do a search using the words 'soda blasting' I haven't done it, but probably will next winter.

[GoFish]

[QUOTE=JohnR;486689]I'd check the forums at ClassicSeacraft.com & ClassicMako.com for those topics too - lots of good info.

You need to be real carefull of any power sander too so that you don't blow through the paint and into / through the gelcoat. In fact, an older boat like that when you get to the bare hull you might want to put some special layers of material to prevent blistering.

Uh oh. I've taken some of it down to the fiberglass already. That's a bad thing?

[Clammer]

Leave if alone // who cares if ya got tooooooooo much paint ///Or wait until ice -up // best thing I ever used to clean the bottom of the boat ;;

F$%^& the dings // if you fish right /you,ll only get more // & if not then sink it & go back to the surf :;


Best of luck with the {NEW} {OLD} rig >>>>>>> every days an adventure

[nightfighter]

Rocks, use rocks. Is how Clammer removes old bottom paint build up

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by Clammer

Leave if alone // who cares if ya got tooooooooo much paint ///Or wait until ice -up // best thing I ever used to clean the bottom of the boat ;;

F$%^& the dings // if you fish right /you,ll only get more // & if not then sink it & go back to the surf :;


Best of luck with the {NEW} {OLD} rig >>>>>>> every days an adventure

It shows..

[JohnR]

It can be a bad thing. Water can get it in and delaminate parts. Best to repair those areas with epoxy and finish off various paints / gelkote

How deep?

[keeperreaper]

that boat is a stud. i love my Steiger. One of the toughest boats made.

[GoFish]

Originally Posted by JohnR

It can be a bad thing. Water can get it in and delaminate parts. Best to repair those areas with epoxy and finish off various paints / gelkote

How deep?

Not too bad. I've been careful and haven't seen anything that looks like glass fibers except in the chinks in the hull. I've already done enough that I think I'll take the rest off and seal it before painting as necessary. Besides, my kids think I look funny as hell coated in blue powder!

[MakoMike]

Make sure you wear a respirator and don't breathe any of that blue dust, it can be bad news for your lungs.

[beamie]

Just give the bottom a quick sanding with 60 0r 80 grit to knock the loose stuff off....and go fishing. I think far too many people worry too much about bottom paint buildup. It's not like you going to gain 10 knots and save 30% on fuel.....go fishing.

[zacs]

i agree w/ beamie.

knock off the loose stuff, give the whole bottom a scuff with the random orbital, wipe with acetone and paint.

It is still a pain in the azz.

[MrHunters]

another thing to weigh is how much did you pay for the boat and how much are you willing to put in to it.

From experience if you don't set that limit before hand your bill rack up right quick. What can you live with what can you live without? Me... i'd put all my money into the motor first, then worry about the cosmetics.

If money is no object. Off to the races.

[GoFish]

Thank you all for the feedback. I'm far enough along in stripping the hull that it looks like I need to finish the job and reseal it before painting. Give me a chance to fill in some of the dents too. So what's another week? I'm a shore guy at this time of year anyway.

I appreciate all the quick and thoughtful feedback. These forums really are a great resource for those of us in search of a clue...

[wjm]

I hope I'm not stepping on any toes but you might want to try
this group too.

http://www.thehulltruth.com

[zacs]

i'm a member of THT and I don't reccomend it to people that actually need help.

too much clutter to sort through.

much better is the CM or CS sites for actual help with repairs/restores/maintenance.