stripping a 36' lapstrake

[GJBan]

Before i start the project, I would like to know from experience the best (meaning ease and fastest) may to strip paint from the lapstrake sides and bottom; rotary grinder, chemical, heat or what?

[C. Ross]

Bump.
Not grinder. I prefer heat for anything flat, but for 36' of lapstrake bottom down chemical stripper would have to be the choice.

[nedL]

Yep, heat &/or chemical. What do you have that's 36' lapstrake?

[ishmael]

As said, don't take a grinder to it. Even with a soft pad I've known very few people who had the control to strip paint on a lapstrake hull with one.

It's been awhile since I stripped such a large project. The last time was the family's 26 ft. Chris Sea Skiff. Slather on chemical stripper was what I used. Depending on how much paint is on the boat, it is not much fun to use, particularly on overhead surfaces. Wear eye protection! There are newer products out there, things that hold the stripper in sheets, but they are pretty expensive.

If you have access to a heat gun, give it a try. I've never used one for this, but it would be worth a look.

Good luck.

[GJBan]

It is a 36' Chris Craft sea skiff. It needs some wood replaces in the aft bilge; but the engines are 350's (not original) with few hours on them. It is my retirement project.

[C. Ross]

I really like the lapstrake sea skiff. Sounds like a terrific retirement project. What year? Got any pictures?

[pcford]

Warning: Sea Skiffs are great boats but sometimes they have extensive rot. I once did a little one and by the time the rot was eliminated all that was left was the windshield frame, the furniture, the transom, and the planking above the waterline. No stringers, no frames. No backbone.

Did you get a survey?

[ishmael]

Interesting that the boat happens to be a Chris Craft Sea Skiff. Our's was circa '57. Smaller than the one under paint supervision.

As to rot, ours had some problems in the caprails and the aft deck, mostly due to our negligence. The hull was old growth doug fir ply over bent white oak frames, and I'll bet it's still sound. Rugged stuff.

The design, in '57, left a bit to be desired. The designers hadn't quite figured out how this much power was going to act on the water. Our boat was wet in a chop. It had a single big six, which drove the boat, flat out, to maybe 23 knots. Later models had more flair in the forward topsides, which while not as pleasing to the eye made sense.

[BETTY-B]

Are those the ones with plywood planking? I saw one in PT a while back. There was lots of hidden problems in the planks at the stern. Hidden as in dug out and bondoed over many different times.

DAN

[pcford]

Are those the ones with plywood planking? I saw one in PT a while back. There was lots of hidden problems in the planks at the stern. Hidden as in dug out and bondoed over many different times.

DAN

Bondo: the cowboy's friend.

They were plywood...

[ishmael]

Both the Lyman's and the Chris's from maybe 1948 up through their no longer being made around '68 were doug fir ply in the hull. Chris stopped production before Lyman, and I'm not sure about those dates. Pretty close though.

Mr. Crittenden, who lived next door to us at the lake, had a Lyman Islander. Lyman had been building the same basic boat for years before the war in solid planking. This one was ply, but it retained a sweetness from the pre-war era, side steering. The boat had two wheels, one forward and one aft, both mounted on the rail. A four banger Gray for power. I remember the Becks, Crit's grand kids, arguing over whether the boat should tow skiers. Never much of a skier, but the boat probably wasn't suitable. They sold it and bought a glass I/O.

[GJBan]

I really like the lapstrake sea skiff. Sounds like a terrific retirement project. What year? Got any pictures?


I would like to send in a picture but have not figured out how to attach one yet.

I just removed the rear deck and see that there is some rot to replace; but with time anything can be fixed

[Dick Wynne]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2194/2522739826_c0f96b6fdc.jpg

Some friends kindly but mistakenly applied eroding antifouling to my 27ft whaler before returning her to me after borrowing her. As she lives on a drying mooring, what didn't eventually fall off had to be removed before I could apply the hard stuff. This I did with Nitromors paint remover, with no problem at all (apart from working under the boat!). Have used it a few times, it claims to be harmless to wood, and so far so good.

[Songololo]

Dick, nice looking boat...

Is the outboard mounted on the rudder? If so, do you have a few closeups of this and perhaps some details or comments?

Lance

PS GJBan, sorry for hijacking your thread ... :D

[starbacca]

go online to www.silentpaintstripper.com (http://www.silentpaintstripper.com) . The paint stripper is incredible. Its expensive ($400) but well worth it. I stripped a 43 foot hull in about 25 hrs. Don't fool around with the chemicals. A regular heat gun works at about 1000 degrees whereas the infrared device works at less than one half that temperature.

[Dick Wynne]

Dick, nice looking boat...

Is the outboard mounted on the rudder?

Crumbs, no:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/2522740764_ddca98b651.jpg

More here (http://londonwhalers.org/?p=50#more-50)

[Songololo]

Sorry Dick ... didn't mean to startle you :D From the angle in the first picture you posted, it looked as though the outboard was mounted on the rudder.

Some lovely pics on an interesting looking website.

[GJBan]

No problem Songololo. I have removed the rear deck and do see some rot in some areas. The previous owner left her outside (salted) and rain water and leaves caused havoc. I will probably replace most fastenings. The overheads are fine but the window frames will need work. Long term projects are no problem for me as long as I end up with what I want and I fiquered a Plywood Lapstrake might have some better durability and strength for an old wooden boat.

How do I attach a picture to these feedbacks?

[GJBan]

go online to www.silentpaintstripper.com (http://www.silentpaintstripper.com) . The paint stripper is incredible. Its expensive ($400) but well worth it. I stripped a 43 foot hull in about 25 hrs. Don't fool around with the chemicals. A regular heat gun works at about 1000 degrees whereas the infrared device works at less than one half that temperature.


Somebody told me that a high pressure sprayer would remove the paint. Is this true?

[Gary E]

Somebody told me that a high pressure sprayer would remove the paint. Is this true?
Only if the paint is already loose.

By the way, which paint are you talking about?
Bottom paint? the soft type? or the hard type?
Topsides paint? enamel?

[GJBan]

This is a 1960 CC and I want to remove all paint. The interior also has peeling paint on the overhead and overhead frames to remove.

First I am concetrating on the interior frames and other wood. Instead of steam bending frames I may ply up Ultraply XL to fit the bends where needed and replace most fastenings.

[GJBan]

Here is a photo of the 1960 Chris Craft Sea Skiff to be restored.http://www.mongeese.org/photos/albums/dads_boat/IMG_1375.jpg

[Gary E]

That is a big project...and it will look good when completed.
Are going to protect it from the weather? Rain snow and damp and all the rest are in the race aginst you, it's difficult for one guy to win that race unless the boat is in a building.

Good luck

[pcford]

Believe me, I don't want to offend the original poster but if it were me...I would not be putting the huge amount of effort into _this_ boat.

Again...not trying to piss anybody off...

[GJBan]

The boat shown is in it's original site. It has been moved and I am building a frame around it and will put it under cover so I can work on it year round. I looked at many boats and it was take your pick as to what the problems were to be faced. This boat was complete and had a good drive train with two updated engins with little hours on them.

[GJBan]

Believe me, I don't want to offend the original poster but if it were me...I would not be putting the huge amount of effort into _this_ boat.

Again...not trying to piss anybody off...

Why? What is your reasoning?
Some one has to preserve these boats and how else can a person of reasonable means but the ability to restore get a boat of this size for the money and much time invested? :)

[Toy Buddha]

Here is a photo of the 1960 Chris Craft Sea Skiff to be restored.http://www.mongeese.org/photos/albums/dads_boat/IMG_1375.jpg i used to have the same boat. do you have any other pictures of it? I would love to see more.

Thanks