I quickly came to the realization that I needed a tool better suited for the job, so I picked up a 6" power sander with a soft backing pad, and switched to 40 grit paper - purchased from McMaster-Carr (Atlanta, GA). McMaster-Carr is a one-stop shop for me due to their incredible inventory and amazing service - If I order materials in the morning to early afternoon, then I have them by the next day! In the process of removing the old bottom paint, I came across a through-hull fitting that had been plugged with what looked like a wittled piece of wood fitted into the opening and then faired smooth - yikes! I will be replacing all of the through-hull fittings and seacocks...a nerve-racking proposition at the moment. I also found a large patch job on the port side hull, just below the water line. Not sure what happened here, though I plan on examining this interior portion of the port hull to try and determine if the patch was at one time a hole or just fairing work.
If anyone reading this has worked in a full Tyvek suit in the humid Florida summer, you know my pain! I just couldn't seem to get enough fluids throughout the working time to avoid dehydration headaches in the evening. From mid-August through late September, I removed the old bottom paint and most of the boot stripe. Prior to the start of fairing the bottom, I will sand the entire bottom with 60 grit disks and my DeWalt VS randon orbital sander to reduce swirl marks. I am not going for a racing bottom, but I do want to try and get things as smooth as possible.
Total time spent removing the bottom paint across six sessions was 19 hours.
The starboard plug....
The mysterious patch job....
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