1962 34 Chinook - Needed advice on brightwork and FG repair

[Caolan]

Hello there!

I am not new to sailing but I am to boat ownership. I spent last year learning about how my first boat (named Cliodhna) sails, handles, and all of her creaks, moans, and quirks. My goal this year is to sail and have fun and also make her look prettier than she already is, replace sheets as needed, lube the winches, etc. ...

A few questions:

• I have noticed some areas under the wooden trim on the side of the hull where either the gelcoat has come off (or seems to) I can see what looks like a crosshatch fiber under it. Is that fiberglass I am looking at? If so what is the best way to fix this?
• When refinishing teak wooden trim, is it worth it to remove it from the hull or just put painter's tape around it?
• I have some places where deck paint is peeling up, is that just simple scrape, sand and repaint or is there more to it?
• During a few storms, a stanchion came out and scratched the hell out of the deck paint... Again, sand and repaint or is there a better way of doing it?

I do not have pictures at the moment but can provide them in a day or so.


Cheers!
-Caolan

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Caolan

Hello there!

I am not new to sailing but I am to boat ownership. I spent last year learning about how my first boat (named Cliodhna) sails, handles, and all of her creaks, moans, and quirks. My goal this year is to sail and have fun and also make her look prettier than she already is, replace sheets as needed, lube the winches, etc. ...

A few questions:

• I have noticed some areas under the wooden trim on the side of the hull where either the gelcoat has come off (or seems to) I can see what looks like a crosshatch fiber under it. Is that fiberglass I am looking at? If so what is the best way to fix this?
  
  Need the picture to really evaluate this. What you describe sounds a bit like chopped strand fiberglass mat. If it looks like a woven cross-hatching, that would be woven roving. Never had a boat where the gelcoat popped off.
  
• When refinishing teak wooden trim, is it worth it to remove it from the hull or just put painter's tape around it?
  
  If you have good drying weather, clean it up, mask it, and varnish in situ. Especially, cabin top hand rails, you don't want to introduce leaks if it is not leaking. If it's easier to do at home, then sure, take it off, if you want to, at least you can keep it dry. For some people it's more convenient to do small items at home.
  
• I have some places where deck paint is peeling up, is that just simple scrape, sand and repaint or is there more to it?
  
  Please show a picture of this, too. If it is paint, that's one thing, but if it's more gelcoat delamination, that's another.
  
• During a few storms, a stanchion came out and scratched the hell out of the deck paint... Again, sand and repaint or is there a better way of doing it?
  
  Consider through-boltiing the stanchion bases. If the scratches are deep, you may have to fill them. There are non-skid deck paints that will cover thin scratches (such as acrylmeric sport-cote), but not deep gouges.

I do not have pictures at the moment but can provide them in a day or so.


Cheers!
-Caolan

We'll look forward to seeing the pictures, Caolan. Good luck with your projects.

Ann

[Don C L]

You might try posting on the Plastic Classic thread: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...160329-13.html since you are now an honorary member of our club! I am sure everyone can help out though, these issues are not exclusive to classics. The cross-hatching you are seeing is, I believe, the roving under the gel-coat. It may be mat, but for 1962 ( a great year for boats IMHO) I am guessing roving. An epoxy filler will take care of it. But it is still waterproof and could remain like that for eons I bet without any issues. What a great ol' boat BTW!

[SkiprJohn]

Very good questions. Your boat was not built with chop strand so what you are looking at is the hand laid roving or if it small weave then it is cloth. You must clean it very well and depending on the material epoxy some mat and cloth on top of the area. If there are fittings or is wood where you can't make the necessary patch then remove that before repairing.

Stanchions don't just pop loose so you'll have some investigating to do there. You have lots of opportunities to learn how to repair fiberglass.

Your boat is one of my favorite designs and I hope you stick with all the necessary repairs.