many questions about repairing/replacing stringers

[carboncow]

Way over due for some updates and photos...but I have questions...so I'm back.

We have the new stringers in and couldn't be happier. We left the old bulkheads and although some are a bit damp the wood will not touch the new stringers...we are yet to tab them to one another.

Limber holes are drilled thru the stringers and we are using 3M 4200 to coat them. We've applied one coat and will apply a 2nd coat and bed in the gray PVC piping to hopefully get a tight fit. We had no 5200 handy and couldn't wait...so hopefully the 4200 is sufficient or our hard work may be in vein!

Question: What type of paint can be used to cover the bilge and paint a few areas of the hull interior? I'm assuming we can just wipe with acetone and some type of epoxy paint...but we are clueless so any specifics would be helpful. Just trying to pretty it up on a budget.

Question: I've also included a shot of the transom which (luckily) was the only thing on the boat that wasn't soft. As you look at the attached photo you'll see the gel coat is cracking and seperated from some parts of the inside of the transom. We are going to custom bend an aluminium plate to pretty up this area. Any suggestions if we should seal/fill that crack up gel coat here?

[tartuffe]

Dont prep painted areas with acetone, it leaves a residue. Bilge areas need a paint meant for standing water, if not it will blister and peel after a week of water in your bilge. I used interlux performance vc in my bilge, it works well. Rustoleum makes a topside paint, never used it but heard good things.

Are you going to put foam back in your boat? I would if I were you.

Regarding covering up cracked gel coat, need pics.

[carboncow]

Originally Posted by tartuffe

Are you going to put foam back in your boat? I would if I were you.

Regarding covering up cracked gel coat, need pics.

Thanks for your comments...what is your priority for the foam as I've seen several posts say they are not doing it?

If you look at the last photo and click on it in detail you'll see the gelcoat cracks on the dirty (inside) of the transom around the engine area. Suggestions?

[tartuffe]

My eyes are not so great that I can get an idea of why the gelcoat is coming off in chunks if I am seeing that correctly.

Regarding the foam, people will say it leads to rot, absorbs water.......If not built properly it, sure it could lead to rot. Question is do you want the boat to last 30 more years full of flotation or 100 years and you are one piece of debris in the water away from having your family in the water awaiting rescue?

If you put drains in your rod holders and consider how water gets under the deck, you can figure out how minimize water intrusion. My boat was 30 years old when I ripped it apart and the only place i found water saturated foam was under the fuel tank. It got there from the bulkheads rotting out.

[carboncow]

We have stripped the decals off the boat and I don't think we have to sand it down due to the shine still in the hull. I'm hoping simply compounding, polishing and waxing will do. I've got a buddy who does vehicle wraps and will work with him on new graphics to cover up the old ones and the shine left by the stripes.

What do you use the prep the hull especially with the glues from the old decals. we used a special wheel to rip the decals off the hull but the glue and such remains.

I know it should be washed with a acid solution (delimer) but can I acetone the hull...it seems to want to talk that adhesive off that adhesive mover cannot budge. Or will acetone damage the gelcoat in some way?

[Destroyer]

I REALLY don't know if this will work, but try some MaryKate On and Off hull cleaner. The stuff contains acid and is made to remove oil scum, tar, and most anything else from fiberglass hulls. Harmless to the hull, and it just might remove that glue residue you're talking about. Use it in a WELL VENTILATED area... like outside,..... and use gloves and goggles while using it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Mary...f+hull+cleaner

[carboncow]

Thanks Destroyer...I'm going to guess this is the same thing as the industrial d-limer I user her at work that is also a mild acid. It's amazing for cleaning the hull just like any over priced boat cleaner I've used (with acid) but it doesn't do much to those decal adhesives!