Hartley ts18

Hi, I restoring a very old ts 18 I bought in Mandurah ,well just started anyhow. I have stripped off most of the fitting and built a new tiller and stripped back the rudder and stock. Just about to start on the hull and deck. Seems to have a gelcoat deck and hull but its been roughly painted over many times by the look of it. Was wondering the best way to remove the paint? Everything seems pretty sound so far havent found any rot or soft spots. I have been viewing some of the threads here very informative site thanks,..

Welcome to the forum. Interesting project.

Very interesting, welcome aboard.:2tsup:

Welcome to the forums. As you might have seen, there is a fairly active wooden boat section further down.

As to your TS18, I have been a distant admirer of the Hartley TS range for a long time but have no direct background with them. However I suggest that the deck being gel coat would be incorrect. Gel coat is a coloured finishing resin that is sprayed inside a female mould directly over the release agent to give the required finish. This is followed up with the the required build up of resin/reinforcement layers. It is only found on GRP boat.

Since the TS hull and deck is normally framed and clad in ply, it is possible that the deck has been sheathed with glass cloth and resin, either at the time of building, or later when seepage has been found to leak through the deck and or cabin structure.

It might be being pedantic, but it might lead to more relevant advice if you ask for information/help/suggestions about a sheathed deck rather than a gel coated on.

Not trying to be a pain or put you down, just point out the difference in material and technology.