July 1st, 2008

Over the last two days, the topsides were completely stripped and gone over with 40 grit paper. Starting on Thursday, more detailed work will take place to clean up the cove stripe and sand the cockpit and cabin house. After that, any dings in the hull can be filled, and the hull can be sanded with higher grit paper to prepare for painting.

The boat had been painted four times before without going back down to bare glass, so it really took a lot of time to get all the paint off and back to a bare hull.

The toe rail still looks pretty bad right now, but I tested a couple spots and it should clean up pretty nicely and quickly.

The stern no longer bears the name or hailing port, but it should return in the next couple weeks.
The hull, without all that layers of paint, is starting to show its fine curves again, and should look even better once it is fully faired and painted.

Meanwhile, in Cambridge, most of the interior woodwork has been treated with Oxalic Acid in order to brighten it and even out the color, and sanded in anticipation of the varnish that should begin next week.

Expect some more updates soon, I am only working in the office one day this week and then spending the next six days on the boat.