can I turn my boat over to paint !!help!!

dsinger

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 6, 2004
Messages
424
I have a 17 foot bass boat that I have just completely redone (stringers, transom, and floor). I am now to the point I want to paint. I was wondering if I could turn the boat upside down and paint the bottom of the hull. I plained on setting it on two saw horses. Oh ya I have seperated the top from the hull. It is a 1976 17 foot fiberglass Mark Twain. Will the boat hold its own weight on the stringers and floor or what. I am also concerned that it will lose its shap and make it impossible to put the top back on the hull. All the painters around here tell me to get 6 or 7 frineds and a 12 pack of beer and just turn that baby over, but I dont think they are to worried about me getting the boat back togeather.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,088
Re: can I turn my boat over to paint !!help!!

The hull is going to be Flimsy without the deck attached, Unless you Brace it........<br />But,<br />It'll Still be Flimsy,+ You'll still be able to reinstall the deck, After you paint it......
Will the boat hold its own weight on the stringers and floor or what.
It Should.......!!!!<br />
All the painters around here tell me to get 6 or 7 frineds and a 12 pack of beer and just turn that baby over,
Ayuh,<br />That's what I'd Do..............<br />
I dont think they are to worried about me getting the boat back togeather.
See Above........... ;)
 

cuzner

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 14, 2004
Messages
771
Re: can I turn my boat over to paint !!help!!

6 or 7 freinds.... better make 24 beer :D <br /><br /> Jim
 

moderator1

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 5, 2002
Messages
1,668
Re: can I turn my boat over to paint !!help!!

Moving to Boat Restoration and Building.
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: can I turn my boat over to paint !!help!!

The best way to do it is with a group of people.<br /><br />However, put the cap back on before you flip it. The sides will never hold the hull weight, without the cap.
 

JasonJ

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2001
Messages
4,163
Re: can I turn my boat over to paint !!help!!

Definately put the cap back on. Even though you plan on having the weight resting on the floor (which if done properly will be more than strong enough), the sides will be too flexi/flimsy to hold onto when you flip. If it were me, I probably would have actually flipped and painted when it was nothing but a shell, it would have been a lot lighter and easier to manage, but that doesn't help much now. Is it on a trailer or saw horses now? An alternative is to paint it as it sits, and when the paint is cured, move the boat on whatever it is sitting on to expose the unpainted areas, fair and paint those. It should blend with a bit of wet sanding. That may be a safer way to do it, but certainly not as easy as flipping the hull. Good luck....
 

dsinger

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 6, 2004
Messages
424
Re: can I turn my boat over to paint !!help!!

So if I put the cap back on can anyone tell me about how much the boat will weigh. It is a 17 foot 1976 Mark Twain Angler (Fiberglass). I used approximately 3 pieces of 3/4 ply wood in the stringers and floor so I guess the wood weight is about 120 lbs. And what is the right way to brace my floor up.
 

mellowyellow

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jun 8, 2002
Messages
5,327
Re: can I turn my boat over to paint !!help!!

I would guess 1,000lbs or maybe a little more?
 
Top