What will it take (cost/time) to get this hull back?
Posted by omarhani@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 89 comments
I'm looking at buying a 1983 Hunter 34 and this is the condition of the hull.
What would it cost to get it in decent order professionally or how long would it take by myself. I'm handy and have time, but also if this is beyond gone, I want to know.
Chesapeake Bay, MD.
pdqlrc32@reddit
is the whole hull in that condition or just on that end? you might find that area is bad and the rest of the paint is okay.
omarhani@reddit (OP)
Everything below the water line. I put a gallery of photos up. The keel is the most troubling, signs of rust pushing through the paint.
pdqlrc32@reddit
you might be able to just remove below the waterline
toocleverfourtwo@reddit
Dude, you are only a few friends, a few beers and hilarious 80’s weekend montage away from a sick boat!
DarthMurcielago@reddit
my brother and I bought a boat two summers ago having never even been on a sailboat. We had to do that work too on our 1983 27 foot hunter. It is very time-consuming, horrible on your neck and lower back, and feels amazing when you finish painting. Just like with everything else, the finished product is so rewarding. Just do it in portions and realize that if you plug away at it daily, you will be done in no time. Sailing is one of the best things I’ve ever introduced into my life besides skateboarding at age 13. Bite the bullet and start tomorrow morning.
Gold_Clothes_3077@reddit
Hours of sanding. Dedicate 3 weeks if working day after day. Ask me how I know
Prospector_Steve@reddit
What did you use to sand?
Plastic_Table_8232@reddit
Sanding mesh - Mirka, with a vac. Rate of stock removal is exponentially higher than traditional sandpaper. I use a foam interference pad 1/4 to 3/8 thick depending on the hull curvature so the mesh lays flat and you’re not relegated to sanding with the edge of the sander.
Prospector_Steve@reddit
Thanks! I actually have all that equipment.
Gold_Clothes_3077@reddit
We have cousin boats. 1980 Hunter 25. I too had/have 5 layers 🙄 I'm so annoyed by it I've contemplated scrapping her. At first I used a flat angle grinder. That takes too much too fast and is so freaking tiring, not to mention it really sends paint dust flying everywhere. I then thought, I'll scrap it with a paint scraper! Nope, that just dings up the lower gel coat and is slower. So I had to relegate myself to the 5' orbital sander. Lowest grit I could find was a 40 but if they had lower, I'd take it. If you support Bezos, buy there. I'm stubborn and would rather not so am Stuck with American hardware local
AdvancedRemove2718@reddit
get you some harbor frieght my boy
Thoughtulism@reddit
Bahco carbide scraper is the best for scraping and can be used more gently / accurately.
overthehillhat@reddit
Ace Hardware
has a real good carbide too
helps to be somewhat ambidextrous
LameBMX@reddit
sand impregnated on various cellulose and polymer substrates.
ambaal@reddit
Know nothing of boat maintenance, but wouldn't it be easier to sand-blast it?
Freddirt@reddit
Great option. Sand blasting something that size would be about $4,000-$4,500 and take the guys a week 5-7 working days, set up to take down.
stucksnett@reddit
There are mobile sandblasting companies that show up on sight, create a barrier, and blast 36-40 ft sailboats in under 8 hours. My 44 ft trawler took a day and a half..
kiganas@reddit
Too toxic for everyone and everything involved, must be scraped with a hoover attachment
masterwit@reddit
No there are warehouses with ventilation equipment and cleanup that can be rented. But without an enclosed space... you are absolutely correct
Wierd657@reddit
Yes but you hire someone for that. In many states, you can't even paint your own boat without a pesticide permit.
Wado@reddit
Yes and there are newer methods that keep the blasted/ing materials from creating a mess.
HOHOHOcallmenextyear@reddit
a little dramatic, its a small boat, you just convince a good friend the perks of your boat they get to go sailing on too, and in three days it could look brand spankin new, ask me how I know
stayfly365@reddit
Did this as one of the prep jobs for my parents boat last summer (among others), with the trade off that I would also be allowed to use the boat. weeks and weeks spent sweating in a w a full face respirator and breaking bad white suit just for this one job, all for them to not even launch the boat lmao
Gold_Clothes_3077@reddit
Brother,that is my concern. Imma splash her only for a leak sinks the boat lol
stayfly365@reddit
Its in the name. Bring Out Another Thousand
kiganas@reddit
I second this guy
AppropriateBunch147@reddit
Pick another boat. Way too many hours for an old hunter
Seumas-de-flyflinger@reddit
We hired a guy at the yard that specializes in boat bottoms. Both times we needed that work done. On Lake Lanier GA $3500 for 1983 Hunter 27.
donutsforkife@reddit
$150/ foot plus $1000 for spot repair
Nearby_Maize_913@reddit
what about a super lightweight 30 foot sailboat that has displacement of only 3000lbs? Seems like the work should be based on displacement (better indicator in general of what is below the waterline). I got some bottom paint a couple years ago that said it would need 1.5 gallons for 30ft sailboat but only used 1/2 gallon in the end
Freddirt@reddit
Never only put on layer of paint on. The mil thicknesses crucial important for the biocides to do there job
Nearby_Maize_913@reddit
I put 2 layers and stil only used 1/2ga
Freddirt@reddit
Wow. That seems impossible but I’m not doubting you. Want kind of roller did you use? I’d think to get such stretch in coverage you would want a 1/8 nap roller or a foam roller
Nearby_Maize_913@reddit
Its entirely possible I screwed something up but I repainted (powerwash then 100grit sandpaper with orbital sander then another quick power wash, acetone wipe down then paint) and used up the rest of the gallon. Painted the entire bottom (its a trimaran so had to paint the very bottom of the floats also) but mainly paid attention to the waterline (paint actually goes a decent 3 to 4 inches above actually). Lots of chips/flakes on the underside which is what I want to pay someone to deal with next season.
Outside_Advantage845@reddit
Wow, seems super cheap
futurebigconcept@reddit
Mine was about $300/ft, all in, with stripping, spot repairs, new barrier coat, and paint. High cost area.
NaiveChoiceMaker@reddit
I'm not sure OP's boat is worth that.
ObviousHovercraft306@reddit
That would be conservative in my area.
Freddirt@reddit
First off if this boat is new to you and you want it right, strip all the paint off and apply 2-3 coats of an epoxy barrier coat then you want a colored guide coat as your first layer, then two layers after that of a different color paint. This will allow you to see when your paint is getting worn low and a new haul and paint is needed.
Cost: sanding something like that 34ft down to gelcoat/barrier coat. I would charge around $3,000.
And each coat of paint would be around $15 per foot so $510 a paint coat layer. X5 layers = $2,550 for paint application.
So I’d say around $5,000- $6,000 in labor. Which will need at least 2 weeks/10 working days on the hard for a team of 2 (who know what they are doing and have done this before regularly).
Now that keel is essentially the same steps just you will need to get all the paint off the cast iron keel and immediately (within minutes) get the primer/barrier coat on it.
You can do this yourself but will need a 6 inch sander and a vacuum hookup, all the PPE needed( full face mask, suit, gloves). It’s grueling work to sand all that paint off and if you don’t do manual labor for a living it will defeat you. I have seen many boat owners try and save a buck by doing the sanding and 95% of them always tap out and hire us or another crew to get it done.
Also always remember: FAST,CHEAP, DONE RIGHT - you can only pick 2
-source. I am a marine general contractor and paint about 6 boats a month on top of many other jobs/repairs
doeswaspsmakehoney@reddit
Looks to me that this is just layer upon layer upon layer of antifouling paint below the waterline.
Use a pressure washer to try removing, and then have fun with an orbital sander. Wear a mask!
On the keel, it looks cast, sand.
How long or at what cost is impossible to predict. If pressure washing helps you may save quite a bit of time. But if not, you’re in for a lot of sanding.
Make sure to do this job properly, it will save sooo much time over the next years.
Paint with 2 coats of soft, self polishing, antifouling paint this year. Then next year, pressurewash, hand sand, paint one layer, change anodes and polish propeller, sail.
SeveralEgg5427@reddit
Sell the boat!
omarhani@reddit (OP)
Thank you all for your wisely advise. Consensus is, yes I can diy it, but the time and cost would be a lot. I'm passing on it and will look for something sail-ready. If anyone is interested, DM me and I"ll put you in touch with the seller.
If anyone in the Chesapeake has a 30ish footer that's ready to sail and wants to sell, DM me too.
HOHOHOcallmenextyear@reddit
It's not that bad lol. You can sand it sure, it will take a lot of time, maybe two whole days. take a putty knife, if most of the bottom is just falling off, switch methods. coat the paint with boiled linseed, grab a respirator and tyvek, a decent scraper, and a torch, and lay a tarp down underneath, do it outside, so the fumes aren't trapped. Now you would then have to probably prime the hull, a rough sand with 80 grit, then prime, sand then a couple of fresh coats of bottom paint. That's the worst of it, try a wooden boat though lol.
Really, a vacuum sander with 40 grit will likely do the trick, scrape first though, to be sure. bottoms are easy, you do want them smooth, but only the fish really see them.
HOHOHOcallmenextyear@reddit
paint and start up supplies will cost you money, but if you learn what you need, and build a tool set, it will be rewarding. I've got a 97-year-old cat boat rebuild project, I don't save receipts, but I love spending time working on the project, learning how to properly take care of this boat, and spending time with friends who help out a lot. People who spend too much time saying "it costs too much" or "too much work", live pretty unexciting lives that lack much effort, people who don't have time to be scrolling Reddit, are up to something, good luck
StreetMasterpiece449@reddit
Get er blasted
macadamia808@reddit
Run away from this project
Due-Pear-8687@reddit
Hey!- howzabout not getting this boat. Run!
alex1033@reddit
Pretty much like an average boat from 1983. The rudder shell has cracked, and there is water inside the rudder - requires complete overhaul. Also, pay attention to the keel joint; it's hard to read it from the photos.
Slight-Conference680@reddit
Why not dry ice blast it?
LazyParticulate@reddit
Mine was flaking off like that to bare fiberglass strand when I hauled it the year after I bought it. The PO just had the bottom done in the bahamas... no idea what they used but it took ablative to a new level... Cost 15k to sodablast, gel, and paint.
Icy-Artist1888@reddit
Angle grinder with a sanding disk. Good respirator. Go hard at it. Wont take long.
kiganas@reddit
And a gigaton of toxic dust all around you
Icy-Artist1888@reddit
True
windoneforme@reddit
Don't forget a good shop vac and dust collector head for the grinder, one of those cheap cyclone bucket lid seperstors helps a ton on filter cleanings too.
WolfTrap2010@reddit
If you have time and energy you can do it. I did a 31 down to the gel coat. I used a soy stripper and scraper. Foot by foot. Addictive. The keel should be viewed as a separate project. Iron and water do not mix. I used por-15 on the keel. Epoxy, then barrier coat.
FreshAquatic@reddit
If the United States Navy taught me anything, Paint it once for dust and twice for rust
Foolserrand376@reddit
My moody376 had a bottom in similar condition. I spent a day sanding and got about 10% done. And it was the easy ten near the bow able to stand upright etc. also tried some chemical af remover. With minimal success. Spoke to a guy at the yard (Herrington harbor in deale md). $2300 dollars later I was down to bare gelcoat. And I was able to do other work so I didn’t loose my time. Lot of work, the boat had been on the hard for 8 years.
I opted for no barrier coat based on historical knowledge of other boats from this manufacturer not having blister issues. Yeah I know it’s not gaurantee.
Slapped on three gallons of micron csc and went sailing. I’ve hauled out twice since then. Scuff sand and added more paint. With no issues. It stays in the water about 24 months between hauls.
MidsommarKrans@reddit
People in this thread seem to over do it imo. When I bought my 27 foot I just did some manual wet sanding and kept the old paint layers. Did some primer on the iron keel and some spots above the keel and then just did 2 layers of bottom paint. Barely any growth and it works for the next season. Took me 2 weekends and a bucket of paint for about 100 dollars. Have fun!
PrizeAnnual2101@reddit
Most of that will scrape off with a carbide drag scraper , Then sand with a vacuum attachment, ten barrier coat and paint
It's really hard work and very messy and hazardous so definitely have to use protective gear along with following what ever rules the boatyard ha
Raneynickelfire@reddit
You will have a rented media-blaster in your near future.
OddRequirement1692@reddit
Hire a sodablaster. Then sand . barrier coats .sand.
RafaFTP@reddit
At least a month full time
frontman24@reddit
About 100 hours of labor if sanding down to gel coat and reapplying barrier coat and bottom paint. Did this job two years ago, never again. Couldn’t find someone to sodablast it in my area
If you can find someone, spend the money on sodablast and do the painting yourself.
Lopsided_Ad_5152@reddit
I see other issues there. It looks like the rudder may have froze and they're clearly rust stains from the keel joint. Did you just buy the boat?
kiganas@reddit
My marina has the hand scraper with Festool hoover attachment, free to borrow, and it's the only environmentally friendly solution, not to mention your own and surrounding people health hazard. I did my full hull in about three days of work, built a lot of good muscle too
t-ride@reddit
You’ll need to check in with the Harbor master or the yacht club Yard crew as to what they’ll permit you to do there on site. It’s a very large project and it’s gonna make a significant mess. You have to collect all the debris and shavings otherwise they could get cited by the EPA with all that lead paint that cannot go into the water. You also cannot trash the blacktop that it’s residing on otherwise for the next two years everyone’s gonna know that you made that mess.
Entire-Register-8912@reddit
I paid someone to do my hunter 34. They sanded it down to bare fiberglass and redid the whole bottom. $5k.
mariospapas@reddit
You need to water blast it with a professional pressure washer. I believe renting a machine like that would cost you about 150€ day (that’s the price in Greece at least). a professional would take less than a day. Then you sandpaper it. I have done this couple of times in my job.
Hefty_Anywhere_8537@reddit
If you do it yourself and just want to get it in the water and don't want it taken back? Scrape the loose bits off, primocon the bare patches, then antifoul. Do it over a weekend, one coat of antifoul all over, 2 coats 6" down from the waterline. Cost of a small tin of primocon and antifoul, depending where you are, less than 50quid.
To soda blast it back to gel, repairs, anodes, remove prop shaft, drop rudder, replace cutlass, prop speed prop, prime and antifoul? Far more than the boats worth.
Imaginary-Season141@reddit
I’ve done my keel (dehler 31) with a single terco/triago rotating unit on a standard 230v screw machine to the bare iron. Took me a day to strip. They have triple versions of it as well.
There are paint scrapers as well, like the gelplane proscraper. Also takes elbowgrease but it will be a lot faster than orbital sanding.
ConfidentDimension56@reddit
Sand sand sand. Someone said 3 weeks if you can go at it everyday. I say add another few weeks to that. Take your time and wear proper protection equipment. Mask (FFP2 but 3 is better). Gloves. And connect your hardware to a vacuum cleaner. That is one of the best ways to get to know your boat.
ulysseswest@reddit
Good, fast or cheap? You can only pick two... Fully restored? $200+/ft all day, couple of weeks. One man dream team? Peanuts, and the limit of your patience.
slaughts_hk@reddit
Lost a friendship over this sort of project. Gave the work to a mate, whose timeline estimate and pricing quote went out the window after three months…! Subsequent finger-pointing and blame games led to him walking off the job — and the end of our friendship. The boat sat on the hard for another year, half-finished, until I could convince a pro to pick up the project, partially because indemnifying him from any damages or responsibility. Then it was done in two weeks, although the price was double what I paid my erstwhile friend. So whatever you estimate it will take in terms of time or money… you should double it, at least… and hire someone you aren’t buddies with.
windoneforme@reddit
It'll need a rudder by the looks of it. The.n either an angle grinder with foam backed sanding head or Bosch has a nice powered orbital model of sand that's 7in wide(I think). It's very close to a grinder with the powered orbital engaged, with the orbital set to free spin it's just a large sander which you'll need when your done with the grinder anyways. I start with a 40grit for a hull with that many layers of bottom paint.
Use some sort of dust collection by connecting a shop vac to water tool you use, they sell power relays which will turn on the shop vac when the tool is turned on, which are pretty nice to have. There are also higher end shop vacs with it built in.
For the keel again a grinder or that sander with 40 or 80 grit to get it down to bare metal. A bunch or quality wire brush adapters for the drills and a few wire brush wheels for a grinder. Once clean use naval jelly rust converter to prime the metal then fill and fair with some total boat epoxy fairing compound, and paint it with an epoxy primer and bottom paint.
meatsmoothie82@reddit
You’re gonna want at least 5 sanding disks probably a few more
Onemilliondown@reddit
Mobile sandblasting, the kind that is used on bridges. Takes off the old paint, collects dust with a vacuum. Then applies a primer.
splashtoaster@reddit
Anybody see a beach ball hitting a humpback whale from behind?
daysailor70@reddit
Find someone to sodablast it. It will cost $30-40 per foot but now you have the bare hull to work with. Then you can do the rest. Sand and fair hull, dewax the hull, barrier coat, paint first coat with multi season hard antifouling paint different from final color. Paint final coat, single season ablatives. Probably $1,500 in materials and elbow grease, otherwise $50/foot for the labor
Gold_Clothes_3077@reddit
If you can do this,do it! Save your time, money buying tools you might not need and back. Or not and just suffer through it
dasreboot@reddit
31 hunter? I'm painting my hull now. I can recommend peel away safety strip. Stuff works great. 300 for 5 gallons. It'll takev10 to do the whole bottom. Don't use the scrappy spreader they provide. Go to harbor freight and get some drywall knives
dasreboot@reddit
BTW it'll take about 4 to 6 hours to spead the stripper. Wait a day come back and 2 to 3 hours to scrape it off. Bring a pressure washer to blast off the last little bit while it is soft. Hunter 34? Check the compression post.
richbiatches@reddit
Just walk away Renee!
hello_three23@reddit
Don’t buy it haha.
frak357@reddit
I would also make sure the keel bolts are still good and the keel isn’t separating from the hull.
South_Recording1666@reddit
I started by pressure washing, then sanding the hull, then I popped all the blisters, sanded them smooth, Mickey-Moused each divot smooth with fiberglass resin and a paintbrush, spent about $300 on ablative paint, realized I had no idea what I was doing, put the boat back in the water on a mooring far from the sailing club, and bought a new boat that needed no work, took it sailing the next week.
There’s a prospective member wanting to buy this POS boat. I’m waiting for the guy to come back to the club who crushes boats with some machine.
Otherwise_Rub_4557@reddit
I could do it in about 5 to 10 hours of work spread across a couple days. Just did one today that looks like that. Fiberglass only takes 5 to 15 minutes to put on.
XSCarbon1@reddit
Everything
jonathanrdt@reddit
$1500-2500 to soda blast. Lots of time fairing and sanding. $2000-4000 in paint.
Glenbard@reddit
Really depends on how much work you are willing and able to do yourself. LOTs of time sanding and fairing….. lots of money in primer and paint. Someone would rightfully charge you through the nose to remove that surface rust, and fair the hull… you’ll understand why they charge what they charge when you wake up on the third morning after three days of sanding… Would be a considerable bit easier if you have a buddy with a sand-blaster.