Bottom coat removal

willy · #1 10-06-2005, 11:11 AM

Hey as you all may know next week I'm picking up Fillet 1's boat. It's in the water at a marina, Fillet says he took off most of the old bottom paint that was on boat when he bought it, it was very loose and he got it off almost to the gel coat with a power washer. This season he put on a quart/layer of bottom paint himself. It looks pretty tight on it from what I can see in the water. I don't want it on the boat, that boat just spent it's last season sitting in a marina, trailer boat from now on. The marina will power wash any green growth when it comes out next week but I want to remove all of the bottom paint and have never worked with this stuff before. What is the best way for me to get that crap off and do I have to seal the bottom with something afterwards. Any advise appreciated

Franco · #2 10-06-2005, 11:24 AM

SOME OF THE BOAT YARDS DOWN HERE BLAST IT WITH BAKING SODA - NO HAZARD TO THE ENVIRONMENT - ONLY OTHER WAY I KNOW OF IS TO SAND IT OFF!!! AND THATS A DIRTY HATEFUL JOB!!!

willy · #3 10-06-2005, 11:35 AM

Ok Franco, if I get this stuff off one way or another what effect does that paint have on the gel coat under it, will I need to seal it some how? Its had bottom paint I guess most of its life

reelapeelin · #4 10-06-2005, 11:47 AM

Never been involved in that, Willy, but if the old bottom paint CAN be remover w/out damage to the gel-coat, then it'll only need a good wax-job...if there's gel-coat damage, if you want it RIGHT, it'll need new paint (or gel-coat)...didn't he paint recently from water-line, up?...

Franco's suggestion about bakin' soda blastin' sounds like your best bet...ask the marina if they can do that, too...dig a lil' deeper... ;)...V20's a good size hole in the water... ;D...

macojoe · #5 10-06-2005, 11:56 AM

Well you can have it done like said above.

They also have some stuff called peel a way from West Marine.
There is also some stuff you can get from home depot but I forget the name ::)
And then there is a stripper called sp42 or something like that at most paint stores that is safe for fiberglass.

Paint it on let sit and then you can power wash it off.

After that you will want to sand the bottom to get the discoloration off. And you want to sand the last bit with like 800 grit to bring back that gel coat shine!!
After that good coat of some good wax and you are off to the races!!

Its a ton of work!!!! But there is nothing better then a naked bottom!!!!!!

I have a ton of paint on my boat and I was going to try getting it off but I am not that ambitious!!
And I no want to pay anyone to do it, so I am still stuck with all that paint.

willy · #6 10-06-2005, 01:10 PM

MJ I see some people talking about sealing the bottom after removing paint, is that something special

willy · #7 10-06-2005, 01:12 PM

And RAP I dont believe he did any painting except the aformentioned bottom paint and touch up to areas he did glass work inside

macojoe · #8 10-06-2005, 01:32 PM

I think the people you see sealing the bottom sanded or blasted to much gelcoat away.

If that happens then you will need to have re-gelcoated or sealed and painted.

But if you can get it off with out harming the gelcoat then some 800 sand paper will shine you right back up.

A good place for answers to this question is the hull truth http://thehulltruth.net/category-view.asp Thay had a real good right up about it last year.

willy · #9 10-06-2005, 02:27 PM

Thanks MJ I'll check it out ;)

Franco · #10 10-06-2005, 02:54 PM

THE PAINT REMOVER IS A GOOD IDEA TOO. SOME ARE NOW NON-TOXIC CITRUS BASED. IF YOU HAVE TO FINISH UP WITH SAND PAPER LIKE MJ SAID, I WOULD WET SAND IT. THAT LUBRICATES THE PAPER AND CLEANS THE PAPER AND WILL GIVE A BRILLIANT SHINE. JUST WAX IT BEFORE YOU DROP IT IN THE DRINK!!!