SAnding An Old Wooden Dinghy

[Carl Coventry]

Hi
I am trying to sand down my newly acquired, but very old, wooden dinghy.
The top layer of paint comes off easily, but beneath there is a patchy layer of what looks like filler. This is a real pain to remove - I have tried sanding, wire wool / thinners. Does anyone have any suggestions - or miricle ideas?

My plan is to restore the boat to a varnished wooden finish.

Many thanks

Carl

 

[nispete]

Sanding an old wooden boat

I don't have any personal experience to draw upon, but I can recommend the advice that wooden boat designer Michael Storer has on his website and blog - one of the articles he has written describes restoring old wooden dinghies:

http://www.storerboatplans.com

http://www.storerboatplans.com/wp

http://www.storerboatplans.com/Faq/racingdinghyrestoration.html

http://www.storerboatplans.com/Faq/racingdinghyrestoration3.html

trust this helps
Peter

 

[Kilter]

Avoid wire wool, it leaves bits of wire behind that then rust and leave unsightly stains

 

[Lakesailor]

Hot air gun on half power. Keep it moving. Use a triangular paint scraper. If you are burning your fingers you are too close to the wood with the gun.

 

[Romeo]

Hi
I am trying to sand down my newly acquired, but very old, wooden dinghy.
The top layer of paint comes off easily, but beneath there is a patchy layer of what looks like filler. This is a real pain to remove - I have tried sanding, wire wool / thinners. Does anyone have any suggestions - or miricle ideas?

My plan is to restore the boat to a varnished wooden finish.

Many thanks

Carl

Sand her down a bit. Slap on some paint, and go sailing. If you have to varnish anything just do the transom. (Advice borne of 40 years of sanding and varnishing a clinker built rowing boat inside and out)

 

[Lakesailor]

Actually, yes, that is good advice.

 

[oldfrank]

What's the construction? If she's ply (hard chine) then just varnish the transom. You'll have hours of fun if she's traditional clinker scraping around the fastenings - and then you don't want to sand them off. Carvel will look good if varnished - assuming construction from something like mahogany. Don't forget to stain before you varnish. Softwoods don't usually look wonderful (or worth the effort) when varnished. Time spent in preparation is rarely wasted. I use a hot air gun and a sharp scraper blade - but the inexperienced can do a great deal of damage with a sharp scraper. OF