North Shore Lacrosse

Been a long winter, and have since moved from North Shore, MA to York, Maine to my new home.  With a garage and bay, I had the boat covered all winter, flipped onto horses (by myself--it was quite the process back in the fall!) and waiting for the thaw to allow work to begin.  In the next few weeks, the trailer will be getting rehabbed while the hull gets the final strip and sand.  From there, West System, sanding, priming, and painting!!  Stay tuned as we go "forward".   

Below are pictures off what has taken place to date.  I had to heat strip the entire boat, removing all the old bottom paint.  Under the blue bottom paint I found a layer of original red that covered the bottom of the boat, up to the water line, and even the spray rails.  Moving "up" I worked on the lapstrakes, removing another two-three layers of old white paint. 

I believe I removed as much as i possibly can using that method-and do not want to use chemicals to do more.  Since the boat will get all new primer and multiple layers of oil paint, I am confident I can sand all down to a smooth surface and in the end, have a perfect paint job.

Photos will show the Diatomaceous Earth applied with a mix of Naptha.  I am leaving it on overnight, though I can tell it has already absorbed a lot.  Moving on, I began filling the random holes and uneven areas, especially those at the stern and bow.  Those areas were/are beat up and will take several coats of filler to fill, before sanding to a perfect surface for painting.  I mixed the resin/hardner as prescribed, and used just enough additive filler so that the consistency is not too thick.  I really wanted to get the mixture into the nooks and crannies of the chipped, worn, and "chopped" (especially in the stern and bow) areas.  With temps just above 40 degrees, curing time was slow but did force me to pay close attention to push and shape the mix as it cured.  I did this, of course, only in areas that will be painted the original color(s) of the hull and will be filling/shaping areas to be stained (mahogany areas) with only glue and mahogany sawdust.

Next, more applications of the west system with filler along the entire hull where fill is needed, adding some cut fiberglass to the keel as I rebuild to original size/diameter.  Additionally, I will be using the double syringe method to inject resin/hardener into the area between the lapstrakes and transom, as well as along the length of the keel on both sides. 

So it's been getting old with the continuous mixing and filling with the West System, waiting for it to dry, then sanding.  However, I finally reached the point where I applied the first coat of PAINT to the ol '56!  The plan from here will be to fill what i missed or what may look like it needs more attention, sand the first coat of paint  and re apply a second coat.  From that point a nice coat of red will cover the bottom below the water line, and the splash guards. That is the original color scheme-simple, classic RED, WHITE, and BEAUTIFUL MAHOGANY.

Pics here show that the final coat of paint has been applied, though I am sure touch ups will be necessary as in any job.  I have put on three coats of white and three coats of red.  I suppose as soon as the boat hits the trailer it will be scratched up a bit, but hey, that's what it's about.  From here on in I will add a stainless steel stem/keel guard which will have to be manufactured.  After getting that on, this boat is ready to be flipped back to her rightside position, where hopefully she will remain so for the next 50 years.

Putting it all back together-slowly-as of September 25, 2011