Displaying a rare outbreak of common sense, I talked myself out of starting a new boat, to add to my maintenance deprived fleet, and tackled insted the long overdue job of the Core Sound's topsides.
The two pack varnish had started to give way in quite a few places, and the ply underneath had become discolored, so no spot fix was possible. The two pack had a sort of film that once disturbed, wanted to peel off in untidy strips.
I knew it was going to be a big job, and kept postponing, but eventually the silent reproach of the boat everytime I walked past it was too much for me and I began. It took two solid half days to get the fittings off, partly because a number of them required two pairs of hands, one to hold a nut with a spanner from underneath , one to turn the screw driver above, and I was too stubborn to ask for help. When I finally cracked and got Anne's assistance, it went much faster. I carefully photographed, then put pairs of fittings in labled ziplock bags. With luck I should be able to get most of them back more or less in the right place.
I read on the Internet, that source of great wisdom, that heatgun and scraper was the way to get two pack varnish off. "Easy" I remember one forum poster saying. Of couse, it isnt easy. After about 37 seconds I was regretting that I had not just given it a light sand and hoped for the best. It took two days hard work to get back to wood. Another day prime with Prekote. Another day sand and patch the more visible dings and chunks. And today, at last, we began the journey back. I have a terrible time deciding colours, but so far, I quite like the look of the one I have chosen, Norglass "Sea Mist". It looks nautical in a business like fashion, sort of work boat meets battle ship.
