1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

[jmmacky]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

Hi Triangle. Looks like you're in for a good project! I'm not too knowledgeable about paints but from doing mine think it depends what you are painting on afterwards as to whether you need to remove all the old paint/gelcoat. WOG knows all about these things though so hopefully he will give you a definite answer. Good luck with it!

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

I have already done the pressure washing and it did get quite a bit off. A good start for sure. It think before I start sanding I will do a good old hard bristel plastic brush with water and then spray down. Then go at it with 40 grit, then prime/paint.

I will be going with WOG's method in his signuture. Seems like a great approach for someone on a budget <----- like me.

I followed your build. Great job!!!! you will scream up the british rivers with that. I was thinking around the same color yellow for mine.

 

[jmmacky]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

I followed your build. Great job!!!! you will scream up the british rivers with that. I was thinking around the same color yellow for mine.

Ha yeah I fancied something bright and loud to go with the type of boat! I used epifanes yellow but tbh I struggled to get a nice finish (having no previous experience painting and DIY set-up) and materials were more costly than I had anticipated as they didn't stretch as far as I thought they would.

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

As far as I can tell, the tractor supply paint is the same make up as the 2part epifanes and other brands just was manufactered for a different purpose. I think it will look really good. I think your's looks amazing!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

Prep is the Key to a Nice looking paint job. If you want it to be smooth like Factory then your fingers and hands will tell you when it's ready. The first coat of primer will also tell you a lot. If it's not smooth, the primer will show it. You can sand off the primer in the bad spots and fill em and re shoot it. I must of done that 1,000 times. But...If its on the bottom, only the fish will know. I wish now I had NOT taken so much effort on making it PERFECT!!! Your Boat...Your Choice!!!

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

Perfect is defintely not what I am going for, just good looking. I am spending all this time and dollars on glass, stringers, deck, consule and so forth. Might as well make the paint look half way decent too

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

WOG,
Anything I can add to your paint method for the interior to make it non-skid?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

Sure can. I punched holes in the plastic lid of a coffee can and sprinkled playground sand on the first coat of wet paint. When it dried, I put the second coat on over the sand. I liked the results a lot. I then did a fake "Zolatone" finish which also aids in the non skid but not by much.

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

Awesome advice! thank you!

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration



View attachment 184836

 

[jmmacky]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

You can make your own fairing filler using poly resin, glass bubbles and cabosil/fumed silica. You need to mix it with a mechanical mixer to a mayo like consistency. This is what I used and it worked really well but I don't have any experience with the 3m marine filler.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

3M filler works good to. Right out of the can. Add the hardener, mix and apply. Mix only what you can use in 15 mins. You can thin it with a bit of Mineral Spirits to make it a bit creamier but not to much. Mix the paste only and before the hardener. I prolly used a tablespoon of MS for the Whole Pint of creme paste. It spread a lot better doing that. If you choose to make your own it's a bit better than the 3M and you can mix it to the consistency you want. Seems to have more working time too.

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

Perfect! thank you for the advice. Might just order the 3m due to saving money for the bulk uscomposites order for all the glass and resin at once. I would like to go ahead and fill the imperfections and paint while I build up some savings.
Thanks again!

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

Got the 3m filler mostly applied, still need to do some up near the bow and some on the transom. I actually like the 3m stuff a lot. Works great, just used about a 1/2 a cup at a time and would be workable for about 10 minutes. Been waiting for a nice day to apply the rest. Need everything to be about 60 degrees. I am on track to have the rest down and sanded by the week after next. Then on to paint. Will update with pictures next week.

Not having a workshop is really slowing me down. The temp for a lot of the stuff, resin and paint, has to be just right. Last year it was 75 by this point. Today we started in the 20's!!! arg...

 

[brnschoneck]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

heya greatttt ley mbknow when ur ready hopefully a couple more weeks ill swing on by n help ya out! !!!lets get er done! !!!

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

lol love the energy! So I started some paint. Got to work with a HVLP gun and boy that takes some getting used to. The primer is really showing spots that weren't properly prepared, but hey not going for perfection, but I will spend some time with the sanders after I get the first coat on. Want it a little better than it is now. Hopefully I will get some pics up soon.

WOG, can you specify what type of paint will work to tint the majic tractor paint? I got two gallons of the white and I would like to tint one of them for the hull a pale yellow.

THanks!!!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

I'd use a tube of Yellow Acrylic Oil paint from the art supply store and thin it with MS and add a tablespoon at a time till you get what you want. Or get a Pint of any Alkyd Oil based Yellow paint. It will work.

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

Sweet! Is there any brand specifically that you like or have delt with?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

I get Mine @ Michael's - Grumbacher's Pre-Tested Oils

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 1970 fiberglass skiff restoration

Ok, back to the boat build. Had to go on hold while saving for a roof, which i did myself. OUCH, well at least I saved a couple thousand!

So I need to build a cradle of some sorts. As of now I have a 12' 2x6 and two 12' 2x4's to work with. I have the hull painted and ready to flip and start the interior. Any suggestions on the cradle? I was thinking of just replicating the trailer. Basically two bunks and then a large keel support up front. THe boat is an 1970 trihull skiff. Will post pictures if need be.
Thanks!