1978 Aquasport 19-6 Facelift

[adpostel]

I have read a ton of posts and information and asked questions. Many people have stated it is difficult to tell what is needed, or recommend anything without seeing the boat. So I have taken some pictures and created a slideshow of what I've got. My goal began with just getting all the old paint off the bottom of the boat. Then I decided I wanted to at least patch all of the spider cracks and old screw holes around the boat. Then I decided if I was gonna be that far in, I may as well go ahead and paint the boat as well. I have some experience painting and using my HVLP Gravity Feed spray gun. I have always had good results painting items such as garage cabinets, tool boxes, primered a car, even painted my air compressor. I would like to get my hull smooth and painted. I have a few gouges here and there, and several surface blemishes and cracks.

My questions are: What media should I use to fill these cracks/screw holes that I can sand and paint over. I have read about Marine-Tex and West Marine Surfacing Putty, but since I have little experience with fiberglass and painting boats, I want to be sure that whatever I use will work. So basically I guess I'm looking for suggestions on what to use to cover these imperfections before I paint.

Another question I had was after I patch all these little holes/cracks, do I have to primer the boat before I paint? And what type of paint system is recommended for a boat that is stored on a trailer, and only sits in the water maybe a few days a year?

My progress so far has been pretty basic, I have used 60 grit pads on an electric DA sander to get the paint off the lower portion of the boat. I started with the transom, and did a little on the side of the boat. I have attached a link to a slideshow that gives you an idea of what exactly I have going on. I also noticed that in some of the cracks, the gel coat is pretty thick, I am wondering if I was to continue sanding with a very fine grit sand paper and then buff it out, would I be able to get the original shine back? Maybe I dont have to paint? Any help is greatly appreciated.


LINK TO SLIDESHOW:
http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/dd20 ... dd4b29.pbw

[slvrlng]

Yep you got a project there! I have almost the same cracks in my 73 hull like you do. My plan is to grind out the cracks with my dremel then fill with epoxy thickened with cabosil. Then I will fair with some of this http://boatbuildercentral.com/proddetai ... 4oz&cat=61
. Once I get it smooth I will be using a filling epoxy primer that is sandable. Then a hardened polyurethane on top. I haven't decided if I will use base-clear or not but I do like buffing paint with clear on it. If you paint make sure that you wait far longer than it says on the can to put it back on the trailer as it is likely to damage the finish if it is not fully cured. Good luck and keep us posted!
Almost forgot! The holes I would drill out and fill with the same thickened epoxy. If you use epoxy You pretty much have to paint as gelcoat won't stick.

[adpostel]

UPDATE.... So after sanding the sides down and patching up some scratches and holes, I was at the point that I needed to get the boat off the trailer.  Been at that point for a while, until now.  The wife didn't want me to "kill myself" trying to work on the boat in the driveway, and thinking about it, I didn't wan't my boat to end up on jacks in my driveway for months, which is how most projects end up, especially if you're trying to do it right.  So I got a wild hair up the wazoo one day, and hooked her up and took it to my glass guy.  Mulled it over with him for a while, and left it there.  A couple days later, we jumped on it and the journey begins.  I am pretty stoked about it.  I will say this, if it wasn't for ClassicAquasport.com, I would have never known what I had, and the boat would probably be sold right about now.  But it has a history with me now, and I'm hoping to do it right this time.  We are re-gelcoating everything from the rubrail down.  White bottom, light blue (baby blue) sides, original white restored interior, reglass the CC light blue as well, and repaint entire motor Evinrude/Johnson White.  I am hoping this color scheme looks as good on the boat as it does in my mind, lol!  It being cold and all, my guy said it would be a project, and it may take some time, but I told him it was better than it sitting at my house doing nothing.  It really sux when you have a boat that you can't use and live about 300 yards from the water and private launch.  So again, I am really excited, I am posting some pics to revive this thread.

[gran398]

Adpostel, we're with you friend. Thanks for the good post, and thanks for preserving our boats.

 

[adpostel]

This is what I started out with, mechanically sound, but somewhat of an eyesore.








This wiring nightmare should be fun to tackle!






And I was gonna do this part in my driveway, YEA RIGHT!!



Decided to redo all the wood on the boat to keep some originality to it.  Here is the first complete piece.  The base of the Center Console.  All wood will now be Cypress Wood, oil stained to a nice red/orange hue.  Teak is just to expensive to buy and equally expensive and time consuming to constantly maintain.

[gran398]

Alrighty then.

You're getting a good job on the retrofit so far. Since you're at this point, jump on the deck, jump on the motor.

The wiring, seems some is salvageable (I'm cheap).

Keep us posted, tx.

[adpostel]

Well, I know it has been a little while, but there has been some slow progress on the project.  BUT, we are back on track now, so here are a few pics of what we got going on.  I decided to re-gelcoat the boat instead of paint it.  That quickly turned into re-gelcoating the entire boat inside and out.  As of right now, we only have the bottom done, but sides should be done this week, and then on to the deck and inside.  Here is what we have for the new bottom.  Pics don't really do it justice.....






The new bottom is a far cry from this.....

[RickK]

Good Job  

[Spectre5922]

It's looking great!  It gives me some incentive and ideas for mine.

[pete]

nice job!thats a resto done right!