bottom maintainance

[ITHACAJIM]

having purchased a 1988 hunter 23 last fall, and not having touched the bottom last winter i intend to do the bottom when it comes out of its fresh water dock this fall and have a couple of quesions.  1. what is the best way to pick it up off the trailer to paint the areas where it rests on the trailer without punching a hole in the bottom with a jack head needlessly ending up in the cabin? have the local yard put it on a sling some sunday so i can do it comes to mind? how to get under wing kheel to remove and replace paint? 2. what material to repaint with? fresh water boat , last owner says bottom paint is or was ACT?  3. how to remove old stripes? and where to get replacement striping?  4. what if anything to do with fiberglass above bottom paint? no cracking visible  4. other suggestions or tips?

 

[Brian M H23]

Easy

use a pair of normal boat jackstands, and drop the bunks! You could also fab them from 2x4, but the jackstands are better because you arent just keeping the boat centered, you can ctually pick up some of the weight off the keel (ive heard 15% on each bunk, 70% on the keel is right, but who knows?) I know the bunck on my H23 are just held in place with !!setscrews!!..that will be corrected before the boat goes back on it. But yeah, dont lift the boat, lower the bunks and leave the keel securely planted on the trailer. as for the bottom of my keel..haven't seen it in a long long time but i wallow in the sand enough that bottom paint woldnt last there anyway.

 

[Ray K]

2x6's

In the past I've used 2x6 boards screwed (countersink) together to make a "H" frame. Using a car jack as the lift, position the boards to distribute the weight evenly at the back of the boat. Build up a firm base on the trailer or ground using wood and/or cinder blocks for the jack stand. Then do the front. You don't have to lift it high off the trailer, just a few inches to get your roller under it. Be gental & you don't have to support anymore but I also used 2x4's wedged along the side of the boat for more stability. Obviously have the whole bottom painted first where you can reach without jacking it up to minimize your time. Funny, I'm doing this exact same thing on Saturday! Ray