Winter work

[JasB]

I have finally got the marina to drag my tub out of the water for the first time since I got it...two months ago, and now I need a link to a good page that will tell me what I need to do to ensure it will be the best Snapdragon 24 on the water next year.

The Marina have already pressure-washed 3 years of barnacles and stuff (?) from the hull, and I know I need to antifoul it before it does refloat.

The surface of the hull is not smooth, but more like the texture of a concrete hulled barge, do I need to grind/sand this down to smooth, or just rub down enough to key the surface for a primer?.

One other thing... about halfway down the port keel, the fibre glass has lifted away from the surface of the keel over an area of about 6" square. should I cut the loose fibre off and fill with epoxy, or just squeeze epoxy under the fibre and seal it down?

Thanks for any help.

P.S. I am not expecting a finish on the hull for racing (Snapdragon...remember? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif).

 

[Stemar]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Snapdragons.

I sounds as though you have a build-up of old antifoul. At some point, this will have to be scraped off - this year, next year, sometime...

When you do bite the bullet, you have a number of choices. DON'T be tempted to attack it with a belt sander sending dust everywhere. The dust is toxic.

You could pay someone to slurry blast it off. This is the nice way, but expensive. The hard way, but cheap is to use a scraper. I've not yet had to do do it myself, but from what I've heard, the Bocsh - or other - electric scrapers take a lot of the hard work out of it, or you could use a manual one. In either case, round the corners a little first to reduce digs. A nastier and slightly more expensive way is to use paint stipper, but make sure it's compatible with GRP. AFAIK, Nitromors isn't.

While the hull's bare, it's worth thinking about epoxying the hull before putting the new antifoul on, but you'll need to get someone who knows what they're doing to look at your hull, measure the humidity and advise you on this.

That same person would better be able to advise you on the lifting GRP. This could have too many causes for sensible advice to be given without seeing it.

 

[JasB]

Is this the tool? Bosch
£62.99 from screwfix btw

for once, EBay came up with a blank...is that a first?

 

[boatbuilder]

Sorry your link makes no sense the site is not screwfix

 

[BrendanS]

Made sense to me. He posted link to a site, asking if it was the correct tool, which you can check out. Then mentioned that same tool can be had from screwfix.

 

[boatbuilder]

Ive looked again and dont see any tools for£62.99

 

[boatbuilder]

And none of the tools are of any use for the job described

 

[BrendanS]

Can't see the tool on the link, or can't find the tool on screwfix for £62.99?

I'm not verifying the info, just interpreting. He didn't state it was right tool, he just asked if it was the correct one?

 

[boatbuilder]

Ok I consider myself admonished for offering an opinion.

 

[webcraft]

Re: Enuf already . . .

Can someone just put up a working link to a suitable tool, as we are thinking of a complete scrape this Winter and would like to know how to do it.

If you want to have a barney do it on SB - everyone else seems to be right now . . .

- Nick

 

[l'escargot]

It looks as if he is asking whether the "Bosch PSE180E Electric Scraper" at the bottom of the linked page is suitable and then comments that the Screwfix price is higher. Other people have commented previously that tools such as these are helpful for removing antifoul.

 

[boatbuilder]

A tub of Interstrip and a hand scaper will do the job, why complicate things?

 

[l'escargot]

Why complicate the post just because you didn't understand it. If you want to suggest an alternative why not just do it? I haven't complicated anything as I haven't made any suggestions other than to try to help you understand the post.

Someone has offered advice, you want to do it another way, if you think your way is best, do it your way. Sensitive soul aren't you?

 

[boatbuilder]

No not at all.

 

[l'escargot]

Here's a picture of one for anyone who can't follow the link:

comments invited on suitability? I've never used one so wouldn't know.

 

[boatbuilder]

Sorry wont work, I have been removing antifoul for about 30 years and tried all the labour saving ideas. What is new and does work is dry ice or slurry blast, otherwise its elbow grease.

 

[William_H]

Hi JasB Winter refit is all a matter of what you have the urge to do.
You will know if you need to scrape of loads of antifouling. You will see a step at the water line where the a/f starts and you may see pitting and similar holes where a/f has been removed or has fallen out. It is usually removed after several years of plastering on a/f paint. So you don't necessisarilly have to do it this winter or you could try a section and see how you like it. (you won't like it)
I reckon the important thing is to not take on too big a job. It is vital that you have the necessary jobs done by early spring and get it back sailing. Forget ideas of the best Snapdragon afloat the most used would be a better claim to fame.
As for the delaminating fibreglass. I imagine this is over steel or wood in a thin layer. it would be better to grind away all the lifting edges and lay up fibreglass to the approriate thickness. If it is on to metal or wood then definitely use epoxy resin as polyester will really only stick to itself and then really only in the initial manufacture. (it is not quite that bad but still not good)
Re antifouling. I am so paranoid about the a/f build up that I use a very thin coat of a/f (1litre for 21fter) and then proceed to polish it off in the water through the summer (warm water) until by end of summer there is not much left. I certainly don't hold with using a lot of a/f to get a better effect and don't like the idea of using extra layers at the water line. It is just too hard to scrape off.
If you decide to remove a/f you can try caustic soda as a chemical to soften old a/f before scraping but be very carefull it eats flesh and hair brushes.
You will find your own level of refurbishing. It can be pleasure if you don't feel too much pressure. 0ther people will think your boat looks great while all you will see is the bad bits get used to that and enjoy. good luck olewill

 

[R32Stbrigid]

I bought one of these and it DOES work. Round off the corners to reduce "digs" and use with care. Finish off with a hand scraper. Greatly reduces the time / effort required.

 

[JasB]

Very helpful all, thanks again...I will be an expert in no time at this rate...and I will resist the temptation to post dodgy links, sorry about that /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif