Need some paint stripping/bottom coat advice

[GSELLERS1245]

Here is the bottom of my boat shown in the pic below. The paint is spider cracking really bad. Now my question is this. Can i just get by with roughing it up and throwing a really thick 2 part paint over it, or should i grind the entire bottom of the boat smooth?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need some paint stripping/bottom coat advice

You need to sand that. Is that paint that has cracked or is that the fiberglass? Regardless......it must be sanded smooth. Paint will not cover that and that cracking will always show.

 

[GSELLERS1245]

Re: Need some paint stripping/bottom coat advice

You need to sand that. Is that paint that has cracked or is that the fiberglass? Regardless......it must be sanded smooth. Paint will not cover that and that cracking will always show.

thats paint. I hit it with 60 grit on a rectangular black n decker sander and it just scuffed the surface. this paint is 30+ years thick. Not exaggerating, its about 1/8" thick

 

[GSELLERS1245]

Re: Need some paint stripping/bottom coat advice

actually its not much of a paint, its really thick and in multiple layers. Is this the original gel coat? And if so how do i remove it?