1990 Hunter 23 (wing keel) Restoration

[drewsyntax]

and the gross look right after tearing the carpet out then befores. I recommend a strong constitution to go thru this. In hindsight - it wasn't so bad originally and I could have just steam cleaned it or something. The pic with the pillows was how it WAS Originally. I went overboard but happy with the interior now.

BUT theres was alot of unknowns/unexpeted things under the carpet - sticky butyl tape / the seam of the cabin to the hull isn't pretty - plus a few unknown substances.

 

[Reefing]

Yes, i can post pictures later. Short story, the boat sat on a trailer for 9 years and rainwater came in and destroyed all plywood which are the horizontal surfaces plus the divider between cabin and under cockpit/bilge. So I have now the task of remove cut and reinstall marine plywood. I am hope the job is fairly simple but I guess many things can go wrong.

 

[drewsyntax]

Yikes - likely someone in the group mentioned or you may know - is these (I think they are stanchion supports?.) If those are rotted I've heard of them being ripped or torn from the fiberglass - it's alot of work/$.

 

[Reefing]

No, the verticals are all good. They are made of a different type of wood. Is basically the seats and “bed”surfaces which are made of plywood. Its seems that your boat have them as well bit in excellent shape.

 

[drewsyntax]

hey that's great about the verticals being good. I think the V berth on my boat was replaced by a prior owner - it's super nice thick ply you can see it in one of the pics. The ones my main cabin aren't great / thin and a little soft but should do for now.
Pls post the process as that may be my next spring project!

 

[Reefing]

Will do!

 

[isaksp00]

The bulkheads that support the shroud chain plates are plywood covered with veneer. If your chain plates covers leaked these may be compromised. I had to replace one as it cracked under load.

 

[Reefing]

I will inspect further. But I belive the leak in my boat was just from the window seal and one window which was cracked and poorly repaired. I have corrected this and I am hoping that is the extend of the problem. That is why I want to hurry to get it in the water as I need the be able to take all the stuff from inside so as to inspect it better.

 

[drewsyntax]

Just a note - it is so so much easier to work on a boat when it is on land/trailer or on jack stands in the lot.
I've lost a bunch of screws screwdrivers in my slip - including one yesterday. I hear you on the true measure of the interior horizontal wood with no body sag - but I don't think it will make that much difference - and will be alot easier on land....

 

[BradH23]

So to take out the carpet is a nightmare - the glue is almost impossible to remove - plan had been to do the WHOLE interior in white - but we just did not have the time to sand every bit off the sides - and I re carpeted the sides. The glue they used in the 80's is rock hard - then when you pull off the carpet it leaves fur - gross job.
pics attached

Blue is a 2 part Interlux Maurits Blue - original gel coat is under that. We rolled and tipped it - my first time and it was nerve racking but turned out well (after a-lot of wet sanding).

Are you replacing the interior wood/the berths?

So what did you use to paint the interior? And was replacing the carpet on the sides easier then painting? Thx

 

[Reefing]

Just a note - it is so so much easier to work on a boat when it is on land/trailer or on jack stands in the lot.
I've lost a bunch of screws screwdrivers in my slip - including one yesterday. I hear you on the true measure of the interior horizontal wood with no body sag - but I don't think it will make that much difference - and will be alot easier on land....

I know, i am sure we can do a thread just on things lost at the dock.

I dont have mich space in my house and I can bearly open the hatch on the trailer. Also, the maria that I want to get only has 2 slips left and I think only one on my size range.

 

[drewsyntax]

Hi Brad -

My vision was a all white glossy smooth interior - not achievable at all - but here's how I got to where it is today.

Ok - so we tore out the rug. We tried heat guns on the glue residue and a few other things. Ended up sanding it forever with high grit - wire wheel did not work by the way. Then I used kilz stain killer over the top of a pretty good sand job - there was still a bunch of residue and "fur" from the carpet - the kilz stain killer soaked into the fur and residue. From there once it dried - we sanded AGAIN. Now that the kilz had dried it made the fur able to be sanded away with 60 grit nicely.

You can see in the pictures - the matte white is the kilz final paint.
Then I used Petite Anti-mildew cabin paint over the top.

The sides of the hull I decided to recarpet - which was a million times easier then going gloss white

 

[BradH23]

Hi Brad -

My vision was a all white glossy smooth interior - not achievable at all - but here's how I got to where it is today.

Ok - so we tore out the rug. We tried heat guns on the glue residue and a few other things. Ended up sanding it forever with high grit - wire wheel did not work by the way. Then I used kilz stain killer over the top of a pretty good sand job - there was still a bunch of residue and "fur" from the carpet - the kilz stain killer soaked into the fur and residue. From there once it dried - we sanded AGAIN. Now that the kilz had dried it made the fur able to be sanded away with 60 grit nicely.

You can see in the pictures - the matte white is the kilz final paint.
Then I used Petite Anti-mildew cabin paint over the top.

The sides of the hull I decided to recarpet - which was a million times easier then going gloss white

Thx. I'm thinking of just re-carpeting mine. I was told it would be way easier.

 

[drewsyntax]

Good choice + better route

 

[jbreland]

What was hunter thinking when they put the carpet in the headliner. Why oh why not a fiberglass head liner....
My previous 23 the carpet was terrible, and I had one rotten chain support bulkhead so I had to replace it which meant pulling the carpet away anyway. Rather than go back with carpet I went to Lowes and got one of those plastic panels (don't laugh) like you see in public bathrooms. They are textured plastic on one side, but the back is a very nice rubber type feel. I installed this back on the cabin side with the plastic side down and the rubbery side out. It actually looked pretty good. Waaay better than the carpet. I never could figure out what to do with the horrendous stuff in the overhead though because I couldn't take the same approach. I'll attach a pic but unfortunately it is very poor and doesn't represent it very well....
got out of sailing for a long while and now that Im getting back in I would buy another 23 if it weren't for that carpet....

 

[drewsyntax]

WoW - the hull sides look great on your boat - great tips! Mine I just didn't have enough elbow grease or time away away from my business and fam to keep sanding - it was never ending - I pulled the plug and redid the carpet. Yeah the carpet in the H23 's is horrid - but my man - what a good looking 1980's lil weekender !
A buddy of mine sailed up to kingston the other week and people were shouting from the canal "what a great looking boat" - had me beaming. Sure beats a 80's catalina 22 -

 

[Volkswatson]

Great thread guys. Just what I need for a little inspiration. I’ve been a lil depressed about the water ingress on my H23, but reading this helps a lot.
So it looks like the consensus is don’t remove carpet or replace it. I still think I may rip it out of the top, and replace on bottom.
Would it be a good idea to paint a cheap primer on the fuzzy residue, & then sand it off?

 

[Reefing]

Team, just wanted to update this thread to i form of the completion of the project. Still to be done is finish the starboard side but the
of learning is over. This weekend my family and I were able to go out and sail. We were cruising, with 2 reefs and just t main sail at about 5mph. This was in the west coast of fl in between the storm. All i side the intracoastal an near port.
Thank you all for all the help through the years!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Thank you for those pictures and congratulations as we all knew you can do it

 

[wolf1419]

Hello, newbie here. Just got our H23. After 5 days cleaning/assessing her, I began reading posts here. Ours is an 89, has the water intrusions, 2 cracked windows, broken companionway Lexan hatch [previously repaired - not pretty, but not leaky], rusty keel, and a really hurting cabin [extensive wood rot - needs 85% redo. We did get a sea trial last week and she sails. The crazy thing is she was moored in Hyannis, Ma, in outer Lewis Bay right off the Kennedy compound. That was a surprise seeing their large classic wooden sailboats moored near the lil' H23 we went to view. Exciting! Glad you kept yours and continuing onward. I loved your posts and complimentary responses on the journey so far, and the last cabin pic hooked me right in. I signed right up today, Day 5 for us.