# Just bought a used 17 Chesapeake
**URL:** https://forum.clcboats.com/t/just-bought-a-used-17-chesapeake/42933
**Category:** Builder's Forum
**Created:** [March 18, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/just-bought-a-used-17-chesapeake/42933 "2015-03-18T17:08:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Allan\_Barr](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Allan_Barr)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/just-bought-a-used-17-chesapeake/42933/1 "2015-03-18T17:08:59Z")
Hi,
I want to touch up the varnish on my used CLC 17 Chesapeake. What grade sandpaper (220 grit etc,?) would I use to start. I plan on using Zspar 1015 Captian's varnish. Kayak wood seems in good shape. I would appreciate any help. I don't want to sand too deep, this will be my first venture with a wooden kayak and I just want to do things the right way from the start. Thanks for your thoughts.
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### Author:  [@Howard\_Spira](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Howard_Spira)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/just-bought-a-used-17-chesapeake/42933/2 "2015-03-18T21:57:47Z")
Hi Alan,
welcome to the club. the CLC website, in their shop tips area, has an article on refinishing a kayak [http://www.clcboats.com/shoptips/finishing-tips/refinishing.html](http://www.clcboats.com/shoptips/finishing-tips/refinishing.html)
that said, i have done it myself more that a couple times with my fleet. a couple ideas to share with you.
- think of your CLC kayak as a composite kayak with a beutiful wood core sheathed in clear fibreglass/epoxy. so, unless there is substantial damage to the glass sheathing, most of refinishing involves sanding removing paint/varnish back to the clear glass/epoxy. you don;t typically sand back to the wood core itself.
- make sure to have protection from the dust that inevitably gets created in the process. a ross sander with a vacume attached, a simple respirator and goggles to protect your eyes comes in handy. you do not want to breath in the dust you will create.
- most of this is about patience and following the instructions on the paint/varnish can for good surface prep and application. i have two boats in my current fleet at 14 years of age....and they look like they were built new this winter.....so these boats can last and stay beautfiul with just a little care and attention.
best of luck
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### Author:  [@Laszlo\_Morocz](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Laszlo_Morocz)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2015, 5:28am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/just-bought-a-used-17-chesapeake/42933/3 "2015-03-19T05:28:29Z")
What Howard says with the addition that if the boat only needs new varnish, then just wet sand it with #400 wet & dry paper. Wet sanding will control the dust, be much quieter than a power sander and not have as much danger of cutting through any glass and into the wood when it shouldn't.
If after a complete round of wet sanding it has some deep scratches that the wet sanding didn't get out, then you can locally sand those areas with a coarser grit (and possibly a power sander).
Have fun,
Laszlo
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### Author:  [@Allan\_Barr](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Allan_Barr)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2015, 7:45am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/just-bought-a-used-17-chesapeake/42933/4 "2015-03-19T07:45:22Z")
Hello,
Thank You, Howard and Laszlo. Good information to know before I get started. Sure
don't want to breathe in any harmful stuff either. I appreciate your responses.
Allan B.
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### Author:  [@Allan\_Barr](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Allan_Barr)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2015, 9:51am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/just-bought-a-used-17-chesapeake/42933/5 "2015-03-23T09:51:09Z")
Hello,
Also, how much varnish is usually required on average, for a complete deck and hull touch-up? A quart? half gallon? etc.?
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Laszlo\_Morocz](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Laszlo_Morocz)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/just-bought-a-used-17-chesapeake/42933/6 "2015-03-23T18:17:10Z")
A quart is more than I ever needed for one CLC boat, and that was starting with bare wood.
Laszlo
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### Author:  [@Allan\_Barr](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Allan_Barr)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2015, 9:32am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/just-bought-a-used-17-chesapeake/42933/7 "2015-03-24T09:32:55Z")
Thank You, Laszlo. Info is appreciated.
Allan