Stress Cracks and Painting

[hriehl1]

1968 Hinterhoeller HR28
The attached photo shows some stress cracks around a deck-mounted block fitting, and there are several more similarly-stressed areas around stanchion bases, etc. Not severe, but definately there. And almost the entire deck is alligatored... superficial but it exists most everywhere.

After buttoning-up all deck holes for the winter so I can fininsh the interior, I plan to paint the deck with 2-part super-thin polyurethane (Interlux Perfection or similar) next spring. Can I expect aggressive sanding will remove most alligatoring and most stress cracks; and will two coats of primer and two finish coats likely hide whatever remains? I know Perfection exposes most every flaw but I do plan to sand extensively.

Thanks for whatever advice or experience you can provide.

An interesting discovery... the two stanchion bases thru-bolted into the main saloon had nicely finished plywood backing plates. The other stanchions further forward and somewhat hidden in the head, hanging locker and V-berth did not have backing plates. I bought this boat largely on Hinterhoeller's reputation as a quality builder, but this discovery smacks of shortcutting.

[The Froon]

You will want to "chase" out those cracks as much possible, within reason...because they are likely to show up again after you spend a great deal of care and time on a nice topsides job. If you have spiderwebbing across much of the surface, like I did, I would dig out the worst of the worst, and then apply a few coats of Interlux Epoxy Primekote (as I am, and since you are also planning on using Interlux Perfection). I applied three coats of the Epoxy Primekote, and will be doing a fourth prior to beginning the application of Perfection. The darker colors will show more substrate imperfections I believe.




have fun....

Brian

[Rachel]

Just out of curiosity: Are the radiating cracks around all of the stanchion bases? Or just the ones that did not have backing plates?

Rachel

[hriehl1]

Rachel... I'll have to check on that.

I don't even recall the photo's origin but I do not think it was a stanchion base because they are (I think) all square (except maybe the two aft deck-level lifeline terminators, which this photo may be and it did not have a backing plate. I took so many pieces of hardware off yesterday that my head is swimming. I was gonna count the holes in the deck and cabin, but I lost interest after dark.

[Rachel]

Isn't it amazing how many holes/pieces of hardware there are once you start removing them?!

[hriehl1]

The PO put 32 holes in the cabin sides... one at each corner of 8 portlights to secure curtain rods !!

Wouldn't you think he could have come up with something less invasive to hang 8 little curtains (like epoxy, or 5200, or even Gorilla Glue for crying out loud? Oh well. they'll be quick to fill & fair and I'm planning to paint anyway.