Welcome Board Michael! You have made a fine boat selection, and your M17 will reward you with many, many fine years of sailing. You are pondering: 1. Has anyone experienced the rough hull that I describe above? 2. The straight dope on removing any type of bottom paint without hurting the gelcoat. 3. Do I need to worry about blisters on a Monty? If so, How do you prep for the interlux barrier coat process?...do you rough up the gelcoat and apply it directly over (the gelcoat)? ...OR? 4. Is Boatlife still the best bedding compound/caulk for bedding wood handrails, and other fittings? Or is their something better out there these days. I have a 1976 M17 hull #92. I had some of those "rough hull" patches and I did a bottom job. The tiny pox marks were grouped together and at the water line. They contained no water so I don't think they are true blisters. I lightly sanded and filled small depressions with the 3M mixing fiberglass patch material. Bottom paint should come off, Sean recently discussed this subject, he used a stripping chemical. The bottom does need to be roughed up to provide "bite" for the paint to adhere. Interlux has great products. I applied 8 barrier coats of Interprotect 2000 and two coats of Micron CSC. The bottom paint gets touched up as needed. For polysulfide sealers, I used to use 3M 101 (I think that is the number), but have switched to Boatlife because it is not as thick, and easier to work with. Keep the questions coming, we all wish to see you on the water as soon as possible! Have you seen Bill Lamica's great web site with M-boats galore? Later, Bones Monty nut Lyle Hess groupie _____________________________________________________________ Click to learn how to become a world famous writer or poet. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/Ioyw6i3mz77b5WmvXO5ffL6YDi1gk30Q...