soda or sand blaster

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by garagenc

Hey D
That's why I said for him to ask his blast guy if he has any exp with it. They can blast at a lower psi and it wont hurt the gel coat. I've had 2 experiences with blasting that way and they both came out ok on private boats. The shells can be be fine or coarse depending on what the surface is behind what you are trying to remove. When the shells are fine they work like soda. I became aware of it about 20 years ago when we used it at a Navy Yard on steel hulls, then we started working with a company that refined it so we could do fiberglass hulls for the "Admirals Barge" and all the fiberglass hull launches.

Garage, that's great to know.. THANK YOU!!!!!! (I've actually used walnut shells when I redid my rowboats trailer... I didn't have a concrete or mecadam area available to me at the time, so I used my lawn.. I figured that any grains that the lawn vac didn't pick up would eventually decompose. They worked great, but it took more media to do the same job that sand would have done)

[spanishmak]

where'd you get that smiley with that beer mug!COOOOLLL!!!!

[step up here]

has anyone mentioned that if you strip it you should take the boat off the trailer!
also you will have one hell of a mess going on with the stripper . i never have seen a boat with any age or more than two coats of anti fouling paint after stripper ready for wax . you will see sand scratches, gouges ,chips that will still hold some of the old paint. then you should take lacquer thinner and some scotch brite to remove and clean up bottom after stripper.then you may even have to sand the bottom again to get a smooth surface . this is one job that you may never be satisfied with . answer would be to save up some money ;work a deal but i would never strip a boat over 16 feet but then again am 63years old .
good luck and be careful
i

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by step up here

has anyone mentioned that if you strip it you should take the boat off the trailer!
also you will have one hell of a mess going on with the stripper . i never have seen a boat with any age or more than two coats of anti fouling paint after stripper ready for wax . you will see sand scratches, gouges ,chips that will still hold some of the old paint. then you should take lacquer thinner and some scotch brite to remove and clean up bottom after stripper.then you may even have to sand the bottom again to get a smooth surface . this is one job that you may never be satisfied with . answer would be to save up some money ;work a deal but i would never strip a boat over 16 feet but then again am 63years old .
good luck and be careful
i

LOL I'm 66 and I wouldn't do it either. I completely agree with you. The last boat I stripped was in 1978 in Tom's River, NJ.. I learned a lot with that job... namely that it's a lot easier to have someone else do it... Someone with all the right tools, experience, etc... to me it's cheap money. My time is worth more than that.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by spanishmak

where'd you get that smiley with that beer mug!COOOOLLL!!!!

Right here.. Look to the right of your screen at the smilies ...scroll down to the one you like, or hit more for even a batter selection. The beer toast is in amoung them somewhere.

[spanishmak]

here's to you dude,thanks,hey man this sight is not only helpful but fun too!!Im startin to feel like part of the forum,cheers to all

[macojoe]

The stuff at home depot is called Bix i believe, there is a couple of different bix, make sure you get the one safe for fiberglass

[nymack66]

Just so you know you, in your driveway soda blasting here in Orlando is 60 to 100 per hour with an estimate given up front. I was quoted a price one year ago of 250 if I remember correctly for the bottom of my V. Please note I did not blast it after all after I discovered it was the original gel I then decided to scuff it and re-shoot it with Gel. Here is a photo..before and after ...

[spanishmak]

you guys wont believe this but easy off oven cleaner takes the bottom paint right off I will post some pics later

[nymack66]

Nice work and tip, now you mentioned it I went searching and found no issues at all using this on fiberglass ..Nice tip ...I am anxious to see some pictures ...