Yet another overhaul of the Aluma-Jet.
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This time, I'm working on the hull. When I first painted the bottom with Rust-O-Leum roll-on truck bed liner, I had sandblasted the bottom with Starolite. But I failed to etch with ospho, nor did I apply some zinc chromate primer. As a result, there were spots in the paint that had begun to flake and chip. And other areas where I had worn the paint off, from sliding over sandbars. In the areas where the paint was flaking, I noticed 'sugar' starting to form. Not good.
So, after 10 years, I decided it's time to re-paint the bottom. But not just with any paint. I'm going with Line-X type XS-350, which is military grade, and much more durable than what they put in the truck beds.
However, because of the horrible condition of the existing paint, the guy at Line-X said the bottom needs to be cleaned off, and I fully agree.
At first I tried a wire wheel. Very slow going, and I couldn't imagine having to work upside down on the entire boat like this. Tried a flap wheel, and it loaded up, started smoking. No good. So then I decided to use aircraft coating remover. It works, but just barely. Mixing some laquer thinner with it does help break down the epoxy of the bedliner coating. 2300 PSI power washer, with a turbo nozzle does as well as I could do with a scraper, especially with my screwed up shoulders.
I'm about 99% done, but now we've got a storm system that's going to dump rain for the next 4 days, so, it's at a standstill.
Once I get the paint off, I will go back and etch with ospho, then power wash, and have it line-x'ed.
Will post more as it progresses.
