Sanding a fiberglass boat with flakes

[mississippisportsman81]

Im getting ready to repaint my 16 ft fiberglass bass boat. I wet sanded it with 1000 grit paper a few years back and recleared it but Im wanting to repaint the whole thing now. My concern is the flakes not sure how or what to sand them with dont want to mess up the fiberglass by not sanding it right. Not planning on using flakes when i repaint it if I can get all this off. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Sanding a fiberglass boat with flakes

Is Your Clearcoat Holding up Well,..??....

 

[mississippisportsman81]

Re: Sanding a fiberglass boat with flakes

Its ok , not the greatest in the world but still looks pretty good.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Sanding a fiberglass boat with flakes

OK,....

My point being that You only need to Sand it to get a Smooth Surface, on Good Paint,...
Then paint Over whatever is Left.....

If you Don't sand into the Flakes,..... They won't Show.....

If you get down Into the Flakes,.... You'll probably need to coat it with a Sandable Filling Primer.......

I usually start with about a 180 grit paper on my D/A sander,+ go to a 240 or 320 grit for just under the Top Coat......

 

[DJ]

Re: Sanding a fiberglass boat with flakes

What Bond-o said. By all means stay out of the flakes, if you can. If you don't, your whole boat will be Non-skid.:^8)