project 23 mako

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by sportfishing, Mar 20, 2010.

  1. sportfishing
    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posts: 12
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 21
    Location: Palm Beach County

    sportfishing Junior Member

    So i have invested in a 1973 23 foot mako. A project and a half but i wanted something that i could get my hands dirty in a little bit of everything.
    So ive stripped the hull down to nothing and my first question is .
    DO i start by sanding down the hull to prep for paint? What grit should i start with?
    Can i sand down and apply gelcoat? I really want a glaze, wet look for the paint.
     
  2. pescaloco
    Joined: Feb 2006
    Posts: 301
    Likes: 10, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 81
    Location: so. california

    pescaloco Senior Member

    check out the Clasic Mako website

    Are you doing any thing other than restoring the hull finish, like new decks or stringers, fuel tank etc ? A boat of that vintage probably needs all of the above. If so save you self some grief and do the hull last.

    But to answer the question, paint is your best bet for the least amount of work for the best wet looking finish. It really depends on what shape it is in but if it is in good shape. Get a couple gallons of fiberglass wax and grease remover (or a stong solvent like mek) wipe the whole boat several times with about 50 new rags, just keep changing them out so you are not smearing around contamination.

    Next sand the whole hull outsides with 150 or 180 grit paper.
    blow off and wipe of again, with two towel system meaning apply solvent with a clean towel and wipe off with another clean one.

    Epoxy primer / more sanding / spray 2 part p-urethane top coat

    Like I said check out the Mako website you will find guys that have done everthing you will need to do

    Good Luck you should learn alot, but it will be hard work, more expensive than you thought, and time consuming
     
  3. sportfishing
    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posts: 12
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 21
    Location: Palm Beach County

    sportfishing Junior Member

    awsome!

    Yeah that website is amazing. Im gonna blog here and there about my build. There i cant realy get feedback though so this website will be my guide.
    So im taking entire deck out and grinding and sanding down to bare outter skin and starting new. I also noticed some waves in the exterior hull. Any ideas on smoothing this out. mabye bondo or a filler then ots of sanding and checking? Any answers?
     
  4. pescaloco
    Joined: Feb 2006
    Posts: 301
    Likes: 10, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 81
    Location: so. california

    pescaloco Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum, you should be able to find lots of usefull advise here

    Are the waves hard edged lines that run adjacent to internal structurs like the deck or bulk heads. Same on both sides of the boat or just random

    When you cut the new wood for the deck make sure you keep it back 1/4 to 1/2 inch all the way around the perimeter you want a loose fit against the hull sides to avoid hard spots.

    As for the waves some pictures would help, I would suggest no bondo. If you want your work to last use a Vinylester based filler if you are going to re-gelcoat or paint or better an epoxy based filler/fairing compound if you plan to paint it.
     

  5. sportfishing
    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posts: 12
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 21
    Location: Palm Beach County

    sportfishing Junior Member

    im working on gettin pictures. the waves are random and along the side of the hull. from rubrail to waterline. if you were to look down the boats side, you would see waves.
    Its a fiberglass boat but ive only seen these waves on steel boats? hmmmmm
     
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