Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

[oregoncruiser]

So we are a boating family and I guess the bug has bitten my 9 year old son. I found a very solid, but very ugly and slow leaking plywood boat for free last summer. It is 10' long and was homemade. Whoever built it was pretty crafty, and did a good job. Anyway, I brought it home, and we use it on our small pond for the kids to fish out of. So my son and I decided we would rework it this winter.

So we've started sanding it down and I have found a place along the Keel where the old fiberglass tape has cracked, I think this is where the leak is. I have never done any work with fiberglass. So I did some googling and I think I have a basic idea, but still some questions.

Should I try and remove a section of the fiberglass and re-tape/resin it, or sand it down smooth and just layer over it?? I also have no idea how to repaint this thing properly (while staying realistic on $$). Do I need special 'Marine primer" and 'marine paint'? The boat will float in the pond all summer, then be yarded out turned over and left sitting the rest of the year.

Any tips will be appreciated, and remember, I'm not trying to build a piano!!! LOL!!! But I do want to do it right.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

Howdy OC,
Welcome to the Iboats Drydock...

We can definitely help you out with your project, but we insist on some pictures of the area you are working on to better help us see what needs to be done...

And, I am sure we can recommend some inexpensive, read, cheap, paint options, that should work just fine for that boat...

Best regards,
GT1M

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

What your description is telling me is that you'll need to sand and lay more glass but that's an easy fix. Paint, well that's right up my alley. Check the link in my signature listed below and it will tell you how you can paint the boat so it will last for years to come.

 

[andgott]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

Is the whole boat fiberglassed, or just the seams?

You'll want to sand/grind any bad 'glass down to the bare wood- All around any damaged areas. Check to make sure that water hasn't saturated the plywood beyond the damaged areas. You may need to replace some plywood, too, if it has. Once it's all sanded down, you can put more fiberglass over the top of it. Epoxy would be the resin of choice when you're trying to get a good bond with wood.

As for paint- I've built a number of plywood and ply/fiberglass boats, and use oil-based enamel paints- Such as rustoleum... A good coat of primer, and a couple coats of paint, and you'll be set for years.

-Andrew

 

[Ned L]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

For a 'back yard pond boat' Rustolium would work great as has been said, also any good $10 a gallon 'mistint' exterior oil based deck & trim paint from your local paint and wallpaper store will work just fine.

 

[oops!]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

chances are,,,,,that glass is epoxied to the hull,,,,,you will need to repair with epoxy

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

Thanks for all the repiles, I'm excited to know that help is at my fingertips.

I am trying to figure out the pic posting thing as we speak. Las night when I was attemting to learn this skill, I finally saw the big yellow sticky stating that there was a behinfd the scenes update or something going on that might prevent downloads from being successful. anyway, I will get that figured out and post pics as I can.

So in the meantime I have continued to sand the entire boat exterior. Only the Seams are taped. Seems like just sanding through the fiberglass till it smooths out, making sure there is no loose material left should provide a good surface to glass back over? With Epoxy!!

Would it be common or necessary to glass the interior seams? Guess I'll find out tomorrow when i/we begin to sand the interior.

Sounds like paint is no big deal. Don't mean to sound like a tight***, just doesn't make sense to put a ton of $ into this project, when there is lots of wants on the list for the "real boat".

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

Photobucket seems to work the best...

Get a free account...load your pics there...click the IMG tag...and post here using the "Go Advanced"...

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

As has been said it is imperative that the wood is Dry before you glass it. The Rustoleum or Valspar will really work great on your boat and it will cost lest than $40 bucks.

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

Here is a test pic. If it works, it'll give you a general idea od what we're working on.


http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii537/Sutton1996/Kalebs Boat/th_Kalebsboat009.jpg

Boat has been sitting in the shop for about 2 weeks now, but it was saturated prior to moving it in. Seems dry on the surface but wet as you probe deeper. I hear you regarding making sure it is completely dry before doing any fiberglass work.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

Your pic is extremely small and you should use the IMG tag instead of the Http tag. If the wood is to wet you may need to cut it out and make a patch and glass it in. Not that hard to do and we can help walk you through the process.

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

Bare with me as I make another attempt to post a pic, This time the IMG tag.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

That works perfect...nice lookin little boat, should be great fun for the youngster...

 

[andgott]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

Nice looking little boat!!

It's tough to tell from the photos- But if I'm not mistaken, the only fiberglass is tape on the joints... It appears to be some form of 'tack and tape' or 'stitch and glue' construction, though it's tough to tell without seeing the inside. I'd sand it all down to bare wood if it were mine, then let it DRY. if it was saturated, it could take a LONG time. You need to get that moisture out before you even think about painting it.

Once it'd dry, there are a couple of ways that you can attack it. The longest lasting, but by far most expensive, thing to do would be to sand it all as clean as possible, repair any damage you find, and then glass the entire bottom with epoxy and fiberglass cloth. This will result in a nice, strong boat that will last you decades with good care... The most important thing is to repair any damage that should break through the glass, you don't want water getting under there!

You could also repair the damage, then just epoxy the boat... Again, you'd want to sand as much of the old paint off as possible. It wouldn't be as resilient and a glassed bottom, but the epoxy would seal things off well.

The third, most cost-effective method would be to repair the damage, then sand it all down, paint it with a good oil based primer, then top coat it with a good oil based paint. While it's not going to last as long or be as strong, you might be amazed how long it does last! I've done several boats this way- Give it a good coat of paint every so often, and it will last decades. I've had boats last 10+ years painted this way. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure exactly HOW long they've lasted, since I don't own them any more!

It's just a matter of how much you want to spend. The first two methods will cost you around $200, a bit more for the first one since it's going to involve fiberglass cloth. The last, you could do for $25-$40 depending on what paint you choose...

-Andrew

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Real basic help needed in refinishing a 10' Plywood boat

Thanks for the replies. It was/is totally saturated. I messed up in the fall I knew I was going to do this, but had no idea how long it would take to get it dried out. I should have moved it inside then, cause around here it's 45-55 and raining every day. I'll take your advice, and finish sanding inside and out, then wait for it to dry.

Andgott, that for the detailed reply. Might just do the epoxy method. I'll have way more time in it than $200, so may as well do it right.