Just pulled '72 stardust out this past Sunday to replace leaking transom seal that just started leaking last week. Just recently bought the boat and I suspect it hasnt been out of the water since going in 30+ years ago.

While out, we are thinking about doing the bottom. I will have someone this week pressure wash and acid wash the bottom so we can see what we have to work with. Boat is completely dry inside hull, with the exception of what leaked in from transom seal, and not much there. We have seen some crusty/rusty hangy down things and hope these arent issues. we broke one off and there was a shallow "divit".

If we do proceed with the bottom job, wife wants the bottom completly painted blue.

Any suggestions/comments/advice would be greatly appreciated.

We are at Holiday Landing on Tims Ford Lake near Tullahoma, TN.

Thanks in advance....

Bill
Billmo9938972.7484143519

Did you buy this boat without a survey? How did you get insurance? You might have some unpleasant surprises coming your way. Keep us informed.

Is this the steel stardust? If that boat hasn't been out of the water in 30 years you are in for some unpleasant surpises. Have a complete ultrasound survey of the hull. Just looking at it is not good enough. Pressure washing is good to get the crude off but doesn't tell you anything about the hull integrity. Sand blasting does. If you want to do it right you're going to have it blasted and then primed and painted. Blue? What the hey? If you can get bottom antifouling in blue, why not?

I guess I should have only asked for suggestions and advice rather than comments   I guess you get what you ask for

Oh well as long as were started.

Would suggest you sandblast the bottom and give it 2 or 3 coats of CoalTar Epoxy. This is the best and longest lasting material you can put on the bottom of a _meta_l boat. Good for 5 to 7 years if you touch up scrapes every other year.

Usually you don't put bottom paint over it. Matter of fact you need to wait a season if you do because it won't stick.

However it's black not blue.

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Eike,

I can identify with your reaction to the comments. I bought a 1976 Stardust Cruiser last year, and spent the off season restoring it. I had it surveyed, but since my insurance carrier didn't require a sounding, I opted out of having one done. My surveyor proceeded to beat the hell out of the hull with a hammer. No dents or soft spots; no bad welds. The bildge is perfectly dry. No rusty flaky places. He is reasonably convinced that the hull is sound. I spent most of the season living on the boat at Lake Raystown in central PA and had one of the best summers of my life. OMC outdrive with electric shift (another head-snapper here) works just fine. I have about $30,000 total invested in the boat with all my equipment and furnishings included.

My point is, with some elbow grease, and a little luck, it's possible to have a nice home away from home,even with limited means.

Just found a very interesting _link_ on a Rust Converter. The data sheet _link_ found on the page provides some additional interesting info on the #1 - #5 rated products to go over this with. here's the _link_:

http://www.interstateproducts.com/rustkiller.htm

Steeler2: My OMC outdrive with electric shift works just fine also While I have her out of the water, I also had a waterpump kit installed, and type C grease. Having the bottom pressure washed and acid washed today. Meeting a painter with experience at the boat this afternoon.

OH: What about above the water line in a blue color, and the coal Tar for the rest? If that would work, what kind of paint for the blue? Trust me.. the wife will ask me

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I've been using this stuff called Rust Bullet. I hit the few places inside the hull that had some surface rust with it. Above the waterline I used Brightside made by Interlux. Both are high quality paints. Rust bullet only comes in a silver/gray color. Topside has some really nice choices, among them blue. I stuck with the basic white.