Oday 22 - Project Code "Take all of my Time"

Indysailor · Dec 9, 2012

I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how well the gelcoat cleans up. Scotch pad, vinegar/baking soda paste or diluted bleach and some scrubbing will work wonders on the deck. You can wet sand the gelcoat if it is really chalky. The real benefit of the thorough cleaning is that you get to know every inch of the deck intimately.

Is that a repair to the chainplate and bulkhead above the sink? If so, it looks like it needs a redo. Replacing bulkheads is not too hard, luckily.

Brian S · Dec 9, 2012

I would NOT use a pressure washer. You can easily give too much pressure, and blow off little bits of gelcoat. I read how a guy pressure washed his boat over the blacktop driveway, after only ever washing on grass, and he was horrified to see all the little white flecks on the blacktop.

Do a search for Main Sail's fiberglass polishing article - actually, he has his own forum section. You'll probably be cleaning, then wet sanding, compounding, polishing, finally waxing.

Ward H · Dec 9, 2012

Perfect candidate for Main Sail's process, as Brian said. Here is the link: http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=117266

One advantage to a boat looking like that is that it looks like it should be trashed. You can clean it up so well it won't look like the same boat.

When I get done perusing the forum, I will be moving over to Amazon to purchase the Makita buffer MS recomends. Amazon has a good package deal going. Here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.ht...d_t=201&pf_rd_p=1441223982&pf_rd_i=B0001GUE8Q

Merlin Clark · Dec 9, 2012

You've joined a great bunch of O'Day people here!
I agree, she'll clean up nicely.

Indysailor · Dec 9, 2012

ChattOday said:
Yes. It looks like crap. I suspect my cousin did it. I will rip that off, if that entire section is bad.. how does one remove it? What is it called? Bulkhead?

Suggestions?

I cut new bulkheads for my boat last winter, using the old ones as templates. Not a difficult job; lots of us have done it.

Gelcoat is the outer layer of resin on the hull and deck. It's like a paint, but thicker. When the boat was made, gelcoat was sprayed into the molds, then the fiberglass was laid so that when the molds were removed, the shiny gelcoat was the outer most surface. It's maybe 1/10th of an inch thick and it is remarkably resilient.

Ritdog · Dec 9, 2012

Indy sailor is right- scrub it up, and you will see a VAST differance. I would HIGHLY recommend you get Don Caseys's book, "This Old Boat" - it has everything you need to fix your treasure up....$45 and worth every penny. Plan on buying gelcoat by the quart, acetone by the gallon, paper towels by the 6-pack, and epoxy by the quart, minimum. You WILL learn fiberglass, epoxy, metal, and woodworking techinques. Highly recommend ear protection, eye protection, double-can respirator at a minimum, bunny suit, nitrile gloves, and clothes you can trash. Right angle grinder, disks, skil saw, palm and orbital sanders, 1/2 and 3/8 variable speed drills...LOTS of bits....
And you will have a great , tiring, dirty, FULFILLING time.....good luck!

Gaf · Dec 10, 2012

I agree with everything that has been posted here. I am quite sure that you will find that the bulk heads (where the repair was installed) will have to be replaced. Take are real close look at the deck where the chain plates come through. Tap the deck with the handle of a screw driver in this area. Note the sound in different areas here. You may find that the sound is different. If this is true, it means that the wood cores is wet and may require some repair. Do the same process under the tabernacle (where the foot of the mast rests) as this is another problem area. If you check this forum archives you will find how other folks have addressed this. Good luck with your project and I look forward to hearing how it's coming.

Joe11688 · Dec 10, 2012

Hey, I see your boat has a whisker pole! Don't leave it out on the deck. Once you get the boat all cleaned up you can stow it in the cabin. I came up with a great mod last year for stowing both a boat pole and a 6.5' whisker pole in a small cabin. It may work on your O'Day 22.

As far as cleaning up the dirt and grime embedded in the Gelcoat goes, I've used Mr. Clean Magic Erasers which will do the job pretty fast with the least amount of scrubbing, but personally I think that the acids in this product could eat out deck caulking which can ultimately cause leaks. So use your own discretion if you choose to use this product. I'd go with a product that does not contain Oxalic Acid.

kpgraci · Dec 10, 2012

ChattOday said:
So, attached are a bunch of photos. Not pretty, I know.

Nonsense - It's beautiful.

Indysailor · Dec 10, 2012

First thing I would do is scrub everything and see where it leads. Much of what you see is dirt and mildew. The deck is liable to have more oxidation than the hull because the sun has been beating straight down in it all these years. For instance, a good buff shined my hull up nicely but I wet sanded the deck and it's not chalky at all now. The nonskid, you can't wet sand, nor would you want to.

petite misere · Dec 10, 2012

Hi, started the same project 5 years ago

mjp83 · Dec 10, 2012

My boat looked just like that. It is indeed mold, and will clean off well with a bleach solution. I used a garden pump sprayer, diluted about a cup of bleach into a gallon of water, and sprayed her down. Then I used soft scrub and a green dish sponge, and she cleaned right up. I did buff her with some fiberglass rubbing compound and then finished her off with some boat wax. This will keep further stains from " growing" on her. You have an excellent boat, wish mine was a 22!!

RichBone · Dec 11, 2012

I agree with soft scrub and a scrub brush. No scotch brite pads. Nothing harsher until it's been cleaned up. Then you can see where you'll need more work. I spent a year and a half redoing mine. More later

emergpa1 · Dec 11, 2012

ChattOday said:
You have all been very helpful!

I had to look up "whisker pole", yea.. I have that little knowledge.

So, the idea now on the hull is to wet sand, or scrub. No pressure wash.
What about the upper deck? The cabin top? It is dingy. Should I also just scrub it hard?

Do you repaint that? I know it has anti-slip properties that I do not want to lose, so I guess keeping the original finish is key.
You think I can just scrub the heck out of it and pull that dingy out?

Do you seal the upper cabin deck?

Whoa! Slow down, lol" You really have got a project boat there. You are going to want to get some basics down first. May I suggest the bible for us good old boaters. It is Don Casey's, "this old boat". At least look it up on amazone and look at the table of contents. You will see why you need it. You have all winter to read and plan and maybe tackle the clean up. Then you will be ready to start your repairs in the spring. Get that book!
PS. Do not pressure wash.

jackhararis · Dec 11, 2012

On the deck and cockpit: 1 gallon of water in 2 gallon bucket, add 1 cup of bleach, 1/4 cup Mr. Clean, and 10 drops of liquid dish soap. Scrub with a medium deck brush and don't rinse to soon let the mixture do it's job, it will get 99.9% of the junk off.

On the hull: Use soft scrub and a towel. Be liberal with the soft scrub, let it do the work. Rinse, dry, then use Starbrite Boat Polish. Put on in circular motion on a 4 foot section, let it dry then wipe off.

This has been my recipe for excellent and easy boat cleaning for 28 years.

kpgraci · Dec 11, 2012

Oh - you need to rename your project to "Take all of my time and money".

Oday 22 - Project Code "Take all of my Time"

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