New Paint and Battle Wound repair

[hercguy]

I just bought my first sailboat, a 1994 Hunter 23.5. It is stored on a boat lift but I am planning on either trailering or mooring it at a slip without the lift when I move back to Georgia over the summer. The boat is in great shape with no blistering however there are a few dings on the port side by the stern (1in x 1in). Most likely from a dock. Nothing deep and no cracks. The original hunter decals are worn and peeling as well. What I would like to do is:

1) patch the scrapes. Is there a compound that you recommend for a freshwater boat? The color is a Hunter's standard white.

2) paint the hull. I would like to get rid of the old hunter decals since they are worn and paint the entire hull. Any recommendation on types of paint?

Thanks in advance

 

[Hugh Straub]

Light compounding and wax of hull may allow you to avoid painting. Your boat yard will know a graphic specialist who will remove the Hunter "swishy" and put on whatever you like. I very much like the job which was done on my 23.5.

Kind regards

Hugh

 

[Ray Bowles]

Any dings that are at or below the water line will need to be sealed after the repair. It is easy to do and then you can bottom paint if the boat is left in salt water. If in fresh water you can do without bottom paint, but must still seal the repair, if you pull it every year and power wash.
Decals can be removed with a crafting hot air gun. Gentily heat the decal and pull them off. This site might have new decals.
Painting the hull sides is a lot of work to have it come out nicely so waxing might be the easy way to go. DO NOT wax if you plan to paint the hull sides.
Ray

 

[hercguy]

Thanks for the information. From what I've gathered, painting the hull is not only a lot of work but is very very expensive. Pretty much out of the question for $3k. What I did find is that striping isn't very expensive and I think it looks pretty sharp. The hull is all white with the exception of a 2" pin stripe and the Early 90s hunter swirl. I'm considering doing the waxing and stripe. My one concern is the old decal with leave an outline due to 20 years in the sun. Would waxing take care of this issue, if it exists?

 

[BrianW]

When you remove the striping, it will leave a slight "shadow". You can gently use rubbing compound on it, but you won't completely make it go away. A year (or less) in the sun will completely fade it out. BrianW

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Sometimes people will see black, grey or white residue on the hull and that being said came off from the bumpers. You can use acetone to help remove that residue but in the end a little elbow grease is the key. Just be care ful when using acetone. If you plan to go back into the striping and want to put it on yourself, if you cannot find the striping locally, try this site, West Marine or Automotive paint stores as the tape is basically made by several but under many differnt names.

On compounding the hull, go at a slow speed back and forth. Never let the buffer stay in one place while running or you can actually burn the gel coat. The best compound is a 3-M product called Finese It. Buy the paste in a gallon can, not the liquid. Make sure you use two pads one for each side and keep them cleaned.

Otherwise the advice so far is good or should I say excellent advice. I use to sail, sell and work on the 23.5. I know the history of my boat too well.

crazy dave condon

 

[hercguy]

If I keep the boat moored in a freshwater lake is it necessary to put anti-fouling paint on or is it just for saltwater.

Thanks

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If you llive in the north where zebra mussles are, do not think, just apply anti fouling.

On fresh water lakes, it depends as to what crud is in the water flowing down the streams and of course how long the boat is going to remain in. Ok, tell us where you plan to keep the boat via lake name, how long and of course what area is around to give me a better understanding on what is best for your hull. I know the boat as I gave the orignal plans to Hunter, introduced it and so forth. Now you know why I ask these questions.

crazy dave condon

 

[hercguy]

Thanks for the information Dave. I'm planning on keeping it on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas until July. After July I'll be trailering it mainly since the slip fees in the Atlanta area are very high.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If there are no zebra mussles, you should be fine. By the way, zebra mussles cannot survive in brackish and salt water.

FOR THOSE TRAILERING FROM THE GREAT LAKES SOUTH TO INLAND LAKES, PLEASE WASH OFF THE TRAILER AND HULL TO INCLUDE MOTOR OR YOU WILL ALLOW ZEBRA MUSSLES TO INFESTATE INLAND LAKES. EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY BE OUT OF THE WATER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, WASH OFF THAT HULL TRAILER AND MOTOR AS COURTESY TO YOUR FELLOW SAILORS FOR ZEBRA MUSSLES ARE STILL LIVING SOMETIMES UP TO A WEEK REPORTED BY OTHERS.

crazy dave condon