Hardware removal was a straightforward, though difficult at times, procedure. The hardware was initially bedded with silicone - a less than ideal product for this purpose. Some like it because it repels water and is flexible, but I find it inconsistent in its performance and very difficult to remove entirely. Getting the silicone off of the bare deck involved scraping and a lot of acetone. DO NOT try to sand this goop away. It will embed in the fiberglass, can be spread to the entire deck, and cause adhesion problems for the new paint. If you are contemplating a paint project, you are going to want to remove the hardware. It will make both sanding and painting much easier and, if you're deck needs paint, then you better believe your hardware needs rebedding as well - particularly if you have a cored deck (more on that later). The only hardware that remained on deck was the starboard genoa track. I was unable to reach the backing plate under the track as it was between the aft bulkhead and a new fuel tank located in the starboard locker. I also used this time to remove the portlights. The plexiglass windows were crazed and faded and the frames were tarnished. Once the hardware was removed, the holes were filled with thickened epoxy and the boat was ready for sanding. |
Hardware removal
