Suggestions for interior finish

Aug 22, 2011
1,113
MacGregor Venture V224 Cheeseland
Okay got ya, The resin and balloons fill the weave. And then just some kind of skim coat to finish.
Thanks, I do not know any thing really about what compounds are best.
Just want to do this once ya know.

You can use microballons and resin as skim coat if you like, its just harder to sand than light weight filler and the filler is easier to handle. You should not use light weight filler for fillets I don't think. All fillets I put in were taped in with fiberglass tape and faired with light weight filler. You can fill the weave on fiberglass with lightweight filler - depends on the depth of the fill needed. For areas with deep craggy surfaces and large uneven surfaces you would use the microballons - but you don't want to go too thick with that either because it too can crack. For place that are fairly good but have big areas of thick chipped out paint you could probably use light weight filler to bring the surface fair. You have to evaluate the area of repair to determine the right approach.

None of this stuff sticks to old paint reliably.
Just make sure to sand any area you plan to use these products on with like 40 grit sandpaper first to make sure the compound has something to cling to.

Four years after having to replace the cockpit sole I finally final sanded and applied paint tonight.

Its a great day to be a sailor.
 
Apr 8, 2015
90
Macgregor Venture 22 Charlotte NC
2 years later and I have finally pulled the trigger and started sanding.
As I should have expected it's always way harder than I imagined. There are few spots I still have no idea how I'm going to get to. But maybe the hardest part is getting started.
Getting the old paint off is not going well. I seem to be sanding into the weave a lot more then I would like to be. I think I will have to start getting off as much of the paint as I can with the big sander and maybe go back with something smaller to get the tough spots of paint off. (To keep from getting into the weave.) I guess the most stressful thing for me is not knowing if what I'm doing is going to sink the boat at some point or if it's not even an issue.
I'm not a world class Shipwright, I don't even want to be.... I just want to do a good job and have a nice looking solid boat. Maybe I should just accept that it's not going to be perfect or any where near.

If I have a question here I guess its, What's the worst that could happen?
 
Oct 10, 2011
619
Tartan 34C Toms River, New Jersey
Don't sand to deep as when you get into the fiberglass weave (cloth) you are going to have a real mess. The cloth will start to splinter. As in that year boat they didn't get the resin penetration that they do today with vacuum bagging. I know I also have a 1970 boat.
I recommend to sand the best you can, then wipe with acetone. Then paint with a good quality paint. That is what I did and it came out good.
 
Apr 8, 2015
90
Macgregor Venture 22 Charlotte NC
Thanks Sailnoproblem, Can you be more specific about what paint you used? How long has it held up?

I want to get some testing done on the paint to see how little sanding I can get away with while not going to deep.
The problem seems to be the deepest layer (whatever it is) is flaking off so my fear is if I don't get it all off then I will continue to have flaking even after I paint. I can't speak to when it was done but it looks like someone tried to fare the surface, maybe originally or later, but it's pink like bondo. :-( (only in spots though) A few people have suggested using an interior acrylic latex I think....
 
Oct 10, 2011
619
Tartan 34C Toms River, New Jersey
I used Interlux Brightside Polyurethane White. I painted it 6 years ago. You can see it on my album page. It looks as good today as the day I painted it. Sorry I don't have pictures of the bilge area.
 
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
A few people have suggested using an interior acrylic latex I think....
A few people might suggest to run away screaming. Interior latex house paint belongs there, and not in a boat. Ever. BrightSide does not belong in a house, unless you never, ever want the thought of having to repaint it. Ever.