Tips for sanding/repainting

Sand, i would.  Get it nice and flat, then put a couple of coats on.  With tape, peel off the bits that are coming off anyway, and it might be best to put some more on.  May i direct you to the mirror forum, where they have some very expert advice:
www.ukmirrorsailing.com/cgi-bin/forums/default.asp



edit: that link doesn't seem to work, but if you copy and paste it into the browser, it should... (silly computer)

edit: should work now (Mark)

Hi Richard

I recommend you also have a look at http://www.cvrda.org/ - there's loads of information about restoring dinghies in the forum.

Also http://www.trident-uk.com/shop/acatalog/index.html have loads of parts and advice for Mirrors.

You find Mirror parts for sale constantly on EBay too.

Best way to strip the paint is to use Nitromors stripper and wirewool followed by careful sanding with an orbital sander - make sure you don't sand through the tape - it holds the hull panels together!

Use fibreglass resin to reseal any loose tape. More tape can be bought from any chandler.

Cheers

Neil

OK here's a wild one.

I too have just got an old mirror and decided to strip it back to bare wood.  I have spent many years with Ents, nitromorse, sand paper and have always lost the will to live.  This is when I decided to try an 115mm angle grinder with 80 grit sanding pad on rubber backing plate !!!

The results.....if you are comfortable with this type of power tool, then it took me 3 hours to strip 98% of the paint, primer and undercoat off.  I think there was about 4 grooves where I went a little deep (not through the outer skin) then a good sand down with 120 grit and a conventional sander and they were gone.  I just took off the first 2mm of the tape where it stood proud and then lighting sanded it all over (not with the grinder).  Bit of 2 pac car filler and another sand and the boat is bare wood and fair.

No more nitromorse for me.....