Nauticat 52 Refit

[Richard5]

S/V Surya, from various readings of late, I have seen several sources all agree that blisters are oft difficult to see, more so on a short video.

A partial list of readings can be found on my thread under Const/Maint/Refit.

[Capt Phil]

Thanks, Minaret... I admire your pluck keeping at a big job through illness and surprises. Certainly helps to know the pointy end from the blunt end before undertaking a project of this scope. Hope your health improves and you enjoy many weeks/months of cruising the PNW and warmer climes... Cheers, Phil

[minaret]

Originally Posted by S/V_Surya

I watched the video with interest. Looks to me the boat did not even need the peel. I did not see any blisters.

My previous boat was a 1976 32 footer I bought in 1977. At about 1983 I noticed the bumps and did a gelco coat strip in about 1987. What a dirty stinkin job using a makita disk type grinder. But stripped it down put multi coats of epoxy and built it back after it dried out for six months. Five years later on haul out they were back in force. I do not think I would do the gel coat removal and epoxy again.

Now, on my current boat I haul every year cause I am on the east coat so osmosis does not seem to be an issue here. But when I rebuilt my keel and other below the water line fiberglass projects there was some blistering and delamination. But again I do not think they warrant a peel. And I won't do it till I am convinced the blisters would be gone for good.

What is the state of the art these days????

Peeler, Hotvac, and Interlux 2000e. Problem solved. Here's a pic or two of my exploratory grind, it makes the blisters obvious. It was time. This is just gelcoat blisters, but it was on it's way to becoming laminate blisters.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Thanks, Minaret... I admire your pluck keeping at a big job through illness and surprises. Certainly helps to know the pointy end from the blunt end before undertaking a project of this scope. Hope your health improves and you enjoy many weeks/months of cruising the PNW and warmer climes... Cheers, Phil

Thank you kindly. I'm sure it's not an alien concept to you as a fisherman. After all, it's not like you can just head back in because you don't feel well!

[minaret]

The first big grind on the decks. It's entertaining for me to look back at where we were then...

[minaret]

One of many trash cans of dust.

[bobconnie]

Thats One thing I won't get with my old slab ! Blisters, with her hull of epoxy and glass beads she wont blister! But all epoxy hull and decks still need paint and such! ours is faded but still very useable, the dress up wood like the hull caps and the outer bow spirt is bad and we are trying to steam some replacements right now. I know at my age I would hate to take on a job your size but you have both the knowalge and the place and tools and GOOD friends to do this job !! As we work on ours , I watch your progress cus it makes me feel good to only have what I do LOL keep it fella we all look forward to the finish!!

[Celestialsailor]

Great job man...Now lay off those Red Bulls would ya?...

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Great job man...Now lay off those Red Bulls would ya?...

Come on, this is Seattle. It's all about the quad espresso's, that's what fuels me. Today I cured myself with a giant bowl of super spicy pozole from Carta in Ballard. Burn it out!

[minaret]

Pulling the stern rail and quarterdeck trim, and the man ropes we are using for "safety".

[minaret]

Stern rail stowage in the traditional fashion.

[minaret]

The hull guide coated and sanded to 1000.

[minaret]

A little side work for Boeing. These are giant fiberglass boxes they ship missiles or something in. We make hundreds of them in all different shapes and sizes.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by minaret

Come on, this is Seattle. It's all about the quad espresso's, that's what fuels me. Today I cured myself with a giant bowl of super spicy pozole from Carta in Ballard. Burn it out!

Ahhhh....Ballard...I hung out there while I did a de-commision for transport of my Ingrid 38. It was sunny the whole week I was there. I was told the sun is a rare event for a week.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Cherp

Watched the video. I want one. But I expect they are an expensive tool for very occasional use.

Yep. I think there should be a CF model that get's traded around on the classifieds. They're about $1200, but blades, belts, and other parts aren't cheap. A few hundred extra per peel in parts. Fairly easy to learn to use, but hard work and a shockingly dangerous tool. Don't drop it in your lap!