Can i take my time sanding?

[bawla47]

My plan was work on my boat, sanding it day by day(atleast any chance i could get) within 3-4 weeks span or so before finally painting it. Would it be alright to do that before painting? Would just coverin it everytime with a large tarp after im done be fine? If not, Whats a timeframe i should be lookin at? <br /><br />THanks in advance!!!<br /><br />Jay D<br /><br /><br />Lil background, South Florida Area. 50-70F winter weather. Rarely Rains.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

Don't see why not. I did that with a car once. Good idea to take your time, you end up with a better job by attacking it small area at a time.<br /><br />I would suggest a good washing when you think your done (the boat, not you) and inspect for any missed areas.<br /><br />Keep the sanded areas covered to keep anything from contaminating it (spray pesticides, oils, birds, airborn junk).

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

No problem. It took me about a year to get all the sanding/grinding/stripping done on my 21'er.<br /><br />To get the air polution, hand prints, etc. off it before you paint:<br /><br />Wash it down with a Scotch Brite pad and some pretty harsh soap* (no lotions or perfumes in it) and maybe a bump of 409 in the water too. 3M #7447 is good, and they cost about a buck at any auto paint store. <br /><br />*<br />Its tough on your skin, but cheap automatic dishwashing detergent is good, so is Tide laundry degergent. Use a strong concentration, and rinse it real well by scrubbing with the pad a 2nd time as ya rinse. You can't get it much cleaner than that.<br />Blow the water off & out of the cracks and such, then make sure its good and dry. You'll be fine.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

if'n you just sanding to paint,, there's really no need to cover at all.. no real purpose..<br /><br />if'n you sanding just to repaint,, i'd wet sand.. an put a few drop of dish soap the water.. works much better then plain-o-water..<br /><br />the last before painting,, wash down as per WINGER ED..

 

[bawla47]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

its a 78 gradywhite. It seems to be painted before hand also, but i dont know what paints on there now. i figured i was gonna try and sand most of it down real good, and prime the boat before painting. thanks for the help.<br /><br />crab bait, so i wouldnt really need to cover it, its not needed? just needs a good washin to get all the surface contams off at the end?

 

[crab bait]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

exactly..!!

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

That's how I'd approach it. I'll tell you how I began mine last year in prep for the painting.<br /><br />First after a really through washing and dewaxing I hit it with 240 grit paper in a small orbital sander. I knocked off the whole hull with that thing in a couple of hours for the first shot. It also left a very rough surface clean of anything and made certain that I had no recourse but to go forward from there.<br /><br />After that I did repairs, most minor, one major, and began the final sanding. I started with 180 wet, went to 240 for a second sanding, and finished with 360. I then applied primer. I sanded between primer coats with 240 wet and kept applying them until I had one coat complete that did not get sanded through at any point. I applied one more primer coat on top of that and sanded with 240 in prep for top coat. I applied 4 coats of top coat (Awl Grip), each with sanding inbetween with 240. Actually in some earlier coats of the primer and the color I tried 360 grit for the between coat sanding, but it was just more work without any improvment in finish luster that I could see. Here is what it looked like after 4 coats - all applied with a roller.<br /><br />

<br /><br />Thom

 

[crab bait]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

HOLEY MOLEY,THOM..!! your good at it..!!

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

I thought I had posted a bunch of pictures here from the process, maybe not. I know I have put some of them in other posts at one time or another.<br /><br />It got my attention when he said he had an older Grady. My boat is very similar to a zillion Grady's that were built in the 90's so it seemed to me that my pictures would be relevent. Here's one from where we started in the repairs process:<br /><br />

<br /><br />We had got primer on it before the snow fell but it just sat in primer right beside the road all winter. Oh, we live way out in the country. It got splashed a lot, always doesn, and in the spring I just washed it down, gave it one very light sanding, and then went on as if the winter hadn't happened.<br /><br />I should tell you that just my wife and I, both in our late 50's, did this and we did it with a roller. I did most of the sanding and got down to where I could do the entire hull in an between-coat sanding in a half a day. <br /><br />One trick I used was this, and it might help you out. After a full between coat sanding I would wash down the hull and then let it dry, which doesn't take long. Then I would walk around the hull with a pencil in hand and I would mark circles around and X's through any imperfections I could find - Anything. I was mercyless about it. Once the pencil marks were on the hull I would break out the sanding block again and sand until the marks were gone - Completely. Before the final coat of paint I actually did that 3 times. <br /><br />I have a lot more pictures if anyone is interested.<br /><br />Thom

 

[crab bait]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

darn THOM.. late 50's..!! my mans' gotta be in shape..!! or least wise your in-shape now or in traction .. .. <br /><br />whatdoya need such a boat in west ( by god) virginia..??..

 

[bawla47]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

wow thom, your boat does look amazing!!! Thanks for the painting tips, goin to definately do the X mark idea.

 

[bawla47]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

Thom, 1 question tho, i planned on sanding with only 80-100 grit then applyin the primer. But you sanded it real smooth(360 grit). Would i be fine with my approach? i was thinking the primer would bond to the boat better perhaps. LMK, Thanks!

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

WE in NEW JERSEY can get a problem. Warm humid period followed by a sudden cool front. Causes water droplets to form on both top and underside of a plastic tarp. Bingo- waterstains in the wood if it is not completly sealed.

 

[G DANE]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

Thom - that looks amazing - I was going to take my 17 ' to a shop this spring to get rid of the ugly yellow colour, but pricey - I was qouted 1500 - 2500 $, if I strip everything off it and sand myselves. <br />Seing yours, I think I will give it a try myselves. Did you brush it afterwards the roller job, to remove texture, or only roll it on ? Just about to enter 50ties myself, wife too, but she wount touch it with a 10' pole ( the boat that is ) Would like to see a couple of extra pictures.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

Thom, I can't speak for everyone here, but you put out some great information. I'd love to hear the rest of it. Here, in another post, or email me(email in profile). That's fantastic information, and the painting is something I really haven't developed a lot of confidence for. Also, I'd be interested to hear how much paint you used, if you used the roller and brush technique, etc...I hear a lot of good stuff about Awlgrip, but you just made the best pitch for any paint that I could have imagined.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

i'd do as planned.. then 360 grit ( wet sand ) the primer before paint..<br /><br />i did an article on 'tip an brush' method..<br /><br />go to ( red ) 'search'.. type in painting<br /><br />then my number at the bottom '6309'<br /><br />it's the second line down..

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

Is Awlgrip only suitable for trailered boats?<br /><br />Also, looking at the photos above & the descriptive application procedure, it is obvious that the end result is beautiful. My concern is durability below water & on trailer/roller/keel rub points. ie. How does it last?

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

Tell you What. I'll go start another thread called "Painting A Boat" and I'll put in a bunch of pictures and links that I used along with a narrative. I have to tell you this though. I am not an experienced painter. I can only tell you about this job and a little other small stuff. More a lessons learned than a primer on how to paint. I welcome others comments too because I'm going to have to do a little more of this work this comming spring.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Can i take my time sanding?

Originally posted by bawla47:<br />[QB] Thom, sanding with only 80-100 grit then applyin the primer. <br /><br />On a fiberglass hull, its hard for things to actually soak in or 'bond' with it. The next finish basically just hangs onto it like a cat climbing up on a screen door by clinging to the sand scratches.<br /><br />80-100 grit scratches will work REAL!! for that, but 360 or even 400 grit ones will work good enough so that you won't have a chipping or peeling problem too.<br /><br />With the 360 or 400 sand scratches, you won't have to mop on enough paint to cover the scratch lines. If you go with the 80-100, and spray the next paint job,,,, you will see all the lines from the sandpaper that you dug into the hull.