Re Finishing the Fast Strike

[Bud Kennedy]

When you have an old boat and motor there is always something you want to do to make it look better.  This project began as a simple re paint of he lower 2/3 of the motor that had become pretty ratty looking. I painted the lower parts of the motor and then I realized that the cowling hood no longer looks up to snuff.  As you see by the first picture there is quite a color difference even though I used the correct paint.  It had just faded out over the past 30 years and some of the decals were cracking and needed replaced.

The last four pictures are just some base line photos that I will reference when putting on the new decals that were ordered and now received.  Although there will be some differences I think it will look good when I am done and will post more pictures when I finish the job which will hopefully be sometime this week.









First steps will be to remove all of the old decals and then clean to remove excess glue left by the old decals.  Then a coat of primer followed by two coats of paint and two coats of clear.  Then the final step will be to apply the new decals.

[Wizard]

Great looking motor and will last practically forever if you remove the VRO. I had a 92 Ranger 374 that topped out at 67 mph with two anglers and a full load. Same hull you have but with a different cap. The boat and engine still look good and I see it on the lake with another geezer fishing from it. 

Wizard

[Bud Kennedy]

All of the decals have now been removed.  Time to get after it with some goo gone to remove the residual glue left over from the decals.  Might have to use something a bit stronger than goo gone as it does not seem to be all that effective but will stick with it for a while.  Gonna soak a few spots for about 20-30 minutes to see if that works better.

[Bud Kennedy]

Goo Gone did not work well.  Switched to fingernail polish remover and it certainly did the job. Got two ends of the cowling cleaned now I have to do the sides.  Taking a break for now since it is just too dang hot in the garage again.  Current outside temp is 94 in the shade. not much of a breeze and humidity at 60% Might try again in the morning to finish the glue removal.  After the glue removal will have to wash down the cowling and hit a few spots with some sandpaper and then wash down again.  Got a few more nicks then expected so it looks like two coats of primer will be required with maybe a little landing between primer coats.  So far so good just a bit of a slow process.

[Bud Kennedy]

I have added three coats of primer so far and sanded two of the coats.  Just finished the last coat a very fine spray and will sand with 400 grit in the morning and then begin the first coat of paint.    The primer produced a lot of whiskers that had to be sanded and it looks like one more sanding will do the trick.  I am hoping that the paint coats go on well.  It looks like I will be done with the paint on Friday and then will begin the application of the decals.  Just taking my time to hopefully get this job right without too many problems.

[Bud Kennedy]

Finish coats of Clear have been completed.  Letting it dry until tomorrow and it will be time to start applying the decals.  So far so good but certainly not perfect.  Not gonna mess with it too much more because quite frankly its time to go fishing.  Besides the wife wants her side of the garage back so she can get her car inside.  With a little luck I should have it back in there tonight. 

[Bud Kennedy]

Painting is done and sitting in the sun curing.   Here are a few pictures without the decals

[topdsm0138]

Looks good.

[Bud Kennedy]

I am finished here are the final pics with the decals applied.

[Donald Garner]

The engine looks great    Thanks for sharing the process and all the pictures with us also.