Bottom Restoration

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This may get moved...but I am looking for the most views and best responses before I begin this step of my re-fit.

I have roughly 4-5 coats of Petit Trinidad paint on my bottom. It has gotten a fresh coat about every other season. I think that It is time to take some of this paint off before i apply another coat. This is a really good bottom paint, and very expensive. To my knowlege, it is the best on the market.

1. How far should i sand down the existing paint. Do I want to expose any of the glass??

2. Will I need a primer coat if I take the bottom down to a certain level??

3. What grit sandpapers should I use and in what stages?

4. Should i just sand the chipping areas and toss on another coat of paint??

Lookin for some help on this one fellas. I dont want to many layers on the bottom, and i am not interested in sandblasting.
thanks

[Nauti Natured]

Yes to #4.

[clt_capt]

If the paint isn't chipping badly overall, I'd stick with #4 - where you do remove chips, feather in the edges to smooth the area and to remove loose paint near the chip.

If you do sand to glass, you'll probably need to barrier coat before you re-apply bottom paint...

[Flatdog]

If this is a total refit then do it....... all the way back to the gel coat. Start fresh like you would and want the rest of the boat, it's out the water doing motor's ETC may cost a bit more but in your heart it's right.

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thanks for the replies.
Im out of the water waiting on a future repower.

I think ill examine a little closer and go with the #4

[marlineer]

#4 Son! Work to get the bottom smooth and uniform. I just did Rog's bottom. It was a mess. I faired the chips and sanded the rest smooth. DO NOT sand to the glass if You can avoid it. His bottom looks new. Wear a respirator Dude!

[hobie2]

what do you guys use to clean out / smooth the areas that are chipped?

[marlineer]

I used a paint scraper and med grit paper (lightly) followed by fine paper. I just feathered the spot smooth. On some spots I used the metal handle of the scraper and tapped on the paint. This loosened it and revealed other spots that needed attention.

[JD5652]

Really depends on what you're looking for as an end result. The title of the post is "bottom restoration". In my book, a bottom restoration is not knocking off the really bad areas doing a little sanding and slapping a new coat of bottom paint on her.

What's the rush? If you're waiting on a "future repower", you could get it soda blasted for less than $45/foot and then do the barrier coat and fresh bottom paint yourself and save yourself a few thou$and deneiro.....

Your call...just remember.. you'll get out of it whatever you put into it....

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At $45/Ft im not saving anything. The boat is blocked and not going to any yard unless power is going to be hung!! so this project is up to me. i do not want to start chipping away, and then next thing i know ill have to really get at her. mabye next week ill post some pics of the areas that i have in question...

thanks for the responses