Bottom Paint removal
 

I know this has been discussed many times, but I was wondering if anyone has tried any new products lately? What is the most painless procedure? It's a 25 foot boat & the owner is ready to go to work on this project. Any help & hints would be appreciated. Thanks,

http://www.yachtpaint.com/Images/15_20468.pdf

download this. good info.

I just read an articale in powerboat & motoryacht regarding blasting bottom paint off of fiberglass using baking soda as the blast medium. Sounded interesting and effective to me.

Check out these products. I have never used them, but they say to just roll it on, let it sit for like 24 hours and then pressure wash it off the next day.

http://www.ibacktonature.com/Pages/tough2strip-PD.html

I used the back to nature stuff on my 40ft cruiser. It took six weekends, 24 gallons and five coats. The bottom is still not completely stripped. The hard part is anything near or above the waterline and around chines. I think the back to nature stuff is good for the gel but not strong enough to easily attack the paint.

I had about 5 coats of bottom paint on my 29 fourmla p.c I tried chemical stripper and scaping for 2 days befor I got out the sand blaster! I am refinishing with epoxy primer and imron as I keep the boat on a trailer now! The sand blaster is the quickist way but it does etch the gell coat! Just right for primer. But be carful, It is easy to eat the gell coat off if you get to close!

What did you use in the sandblaster as the medium?

I have just tried this method and found it works ever so slowly. I bought a cheep (home depot) Husky sand blaster. It worked OK for about 30 minuets and then it just did not seem to be pushing enough of the Blaster type baking soda. I took the nozzle apart and found that moisture in the air line had caused a caked up residue of baking soda in the area of the venture. I cleared the obstruction and drained a small amount of water out of the water trap @ my compressor. The thing worked for about 30 seconds and then clogged again. After repeated attempts to clean the gun I gave up. Any ideas ?

Rent a pressure washer with a sandblasting attachment. Took 550 pounds of sand and about three hours to do a 20 foot boat. Sand is cheap.

Cuda, what kind of finish is left on the gel with the wet sandblasting?

I just went out and ran my calibrated finger tips over where I sandblasted. I'd say about like 220 grit sandpaper.

Re: Bottom Paint removal
 

Been thinking about this again, I keep putting off actually doing anything. Once I've got a nice 220 grit finish, what's the easiest way to bring the finish back? I really am not up for wetsanding the whole hull by hand with 400, 600, 800, 1200, 2000 and buffing, I'd be ready for retirement by the time it's finished. Is there any mechanical method of avoiding all the manual wet sanding?

Re: Bottom Paint removal
 

A guy that had a big boat with w/bottom paint, once told me he had his "water line" paint removed by a guy that used EZ Off oven cleaner, some scraping, then wet sanding with 220 & it worked pretty good. Have no idea if the surface was prepped prior to the bottom painting, also dont know if its true or not....dont have any first hand experience with bottom paint. Just relating what may be a big fish story... :D

Re: Bottom Paint removal
 

I'd get it to about 220, then I'd paint the thing with polyurethane if it's not staying in the water. I was just now out in the garage looking at the 20 footer and thinking about the bottom. I think I'm just going to roll on the paint. You'd be amazed at how well this paint rolls out. It looks like crap right when you roll it, but it flattens itself out amazingly well.

Re: Bottom Paint removal
 

It took me 31 hours of wet sanding to get this finish and the gel coat lived. I used fiberglass paint stripper first and then sanded what was left with 600,800,1000,1500,2000 grit and then buffed and waxed.

Re: Bottom Paint removal
 

I have a lot respect for that, it's one hell of a job to do well.

I sent a couple of mails to international paints, they are suggesting that their 2-pack perfection product would be suitable. http://www.yachtpaint.com/uk//produc...ePageID=3303#1

I can't see myself having time to do it this winter, but I want to make sure that anything I do fits in with part of the 'master plan', I hate not doing the job right and having to do it again.

Re: Bottom Paint removal
 

save your money and time! Soda blast - period. I did once and tried different types of strippers, they all suck.

Re: Bottom Paint removal
 

For me, my concern is that since the gel was prepared by sanding it, I want to lightly erode the surface so that all the antifoul in the surface scratches comes off completely, plus I bet they used a grade too rough. So by wet blasting and eroding the gel slightly, it'll take it back to pure, virginal gel that is in a good state. Am i on the right lines?