(09-01-2006) After getting the transom glued together..I decided to takle the removal of the blue bottom paint. I flipped the hull all by my lonesome. You may be able to see the chains hanging in front and back of the boat. I used the Bow eye and the transom drain holes to hoist it up...then flip it..then lower it back down.

I started to sand (you can see the very front) and remembered to grab the cameral.

(09-01-2006) The gelcoat was rubbed through to the fiberglass here. You can also see my first OPPS with the grinder - the 2 cuts in the orange section. I will have to be more carefull.

(09-01-2006) After several hours of sanding...and only getting about 1/4 of the bottom down to gelcoat...I needed some positive reinforcement. I washed off (scrubbed with comet) the section that I had finished and it looked beautiful. I am still hopefull that I wil ljust have to buff/polish the bottom and will be good to go.

(09-01-2006) Same as above...just a different angle.

(10-03-2006) After a month, workign on it between other project etc...I am almost done sanding. I just have the "hard to reach" spots. Starting to feel good about this...BUT, my idea of not having to paint/gelcoat the bottom this year has been thrown out the window. The gelcoat is rubbed through to the fiberglass on about 80% of the keel and there are some serious scratches on either side of it.

(10-03-2006) Ouch.

(10-03-2006) Deep scratches and a nice chuck missing from corner.

(10-03-2006) Gelcoat worn thin and all the way through at the corner of the transom.

After much consideration, I decided to go with rolling on gelcoat. I am planning on putting 2-3 layers of no-wax on the center section and then coat the entire bottom with 1 layer of waxed.

(10-10-2006) After what seemed like eternity, I am done sanding the bottom paint off. I then scrubbed it down with Comet and an abrasive sponge. I am was hoping that the weather would stay int eh upper 60s for a couple more days but it turned cold and rainy.

(10-10-2006) Another shot of my clean hull. If it wasn't for the keel (where it is down to fiberglass), I would have just buffed this up and been done with it.

(10-10-2006) Nice shot of my REALLY messy shed and the top deck leaning on the canopy. I decided to put up the canopy walls after this shot so I might be able to work as it get colder.

(10-10-2006) Ready to wipe down with acetone and roll on some gelcoat. Two walls are up in this picture. I now have all up so it is totally enclosed. It is not air-tight but it is better than nothing. Notice the strap going from the canopy to the bow eye...I am using the boat as and anchor...these canopies love to fly!

(10-10-2006) Just another shot of keel section ready for gelcoat. Just wish it would stop raining.

(10-10-2006) Transom area of keel.

(11-19-2006) After much debate, I decide to go out and buy a spraygun and spray on the gelcoat. I taped off the entire bottom and sprayed a coat of no-wax. My plan was to come back the next day and spray a coat of waxed but the weather changed and now I get to wait a few days (hopefully)

(11-19-2006) I almost matched the original gelcoat color...This took 1.5 quarts to do (including the transom).

(11-19-2006) The tempature was a balmy 58 so I heated the area with a propane heater, electric heater, and halogen lamps. I also warmed the surface of the boat with and hand held heat gun.

(04-11-2007) We got some warm weather for a fe days so I wet sanded the bottom with 600 then 1000 grit. I only did the bottom (belwo the boweye) so I could flip it over and get to work on the transom. This picture was taked today so there is some dirt splatter from a rain storm that came through.

(04-11-2007) Another shot of bottom.

(04-11-2007) Another shot of bottom.