Wire brush it. Then consider paint from Tractor Supply, Majic Tractor, Truck & Implement Enamel. At $33 a gallon it doesn't hurt all that bad. They also have a hardner for the paint. Don't know about bilge paint.

 

highly recommend Pettit EZ cabin and Pettit EZ bilge paint. Best paint I have used on a boat. Goes on over fiberglass without primer. little expensive but it works very well, wears well and is made for boats. many will recommend many other non boat paints but if you want to do it right it is the best for what you are doing. water cleanup but if you get it on you and let it dry good luck getting it off. white is bright white, off white is better for the cabin.

 

thanks. Price isn't bad at all. any suggestions for prep?

I've learned the hard way with my classic car hobby that generally you save money in the long run spending money on the right product for the job in the short term. Not a fun lesson to learn but a valuable one.

I have a pretty wide array of dewalt tools and don't mind getting some more so any suggestions for something that would make the job "less painful" on the prep side is also welcome.

 

In general I would shy away from paints that claim you can apply without a primer. Getting the old paint off may be the most difficult thing. I assume, like my Alberg boat, the weave from the fiberglass makes the inside surface bumpy. Try to degrease as much as possible even before you start scraping. This will prevent oils from being forced into the surface. A two part topside paint would be very durable. Use whatever primer goes with the system. The marine paints are very good at self-leveling, you won't need to spray, if you don't have the equipment. If you don't want it super glossy, you can add flatteners. I have heard that painting lockers a light grey will make seeing inside them better, or something like that.