@#%*!Bottom Paint!!
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saintsfan
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I know its the last thing you want to hear, heavygrit sandpaper
Charlie99
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Drop by your local West Marine or Boat/US (same company nowdays). They have some good pamphlets on the types of bottom paint, compatibility between the different types, and surface preparation.
A sanding wheel is fastest, but it's easy to remove more than just paint. An orbital sander is slower, but less likely to damage the boat. There are also some stripper chemicals, but they are pretty nasty to work with.
If you don't know what type your old bottom paint is, there are some primers that will interface between most types of paints. That would let you just sand of the bulk of the paint without having to get down to bare metal or fiberglass.
Also watch out for what type you put back on. A lot of bottom coat paints need to be put back into the water within a couple weeks of being painted. Others are suitable for out-of-water storage.
A sanding wheel is fastest, but it's easy to remove more than just paint. An orbital sander is slower, but less likely to damage the boat. There are also some stripper chemicals, but they are pretty nasty to work with.
If you don't know what type your old bottom paint is, there are some primers that will interface between most types of paints. That would let you just sand of the bulk of the paint without having to get down to bare metal or fiberglass.
Also watch out for what type you put back on. A lot of bottom coat paints need to be put back into the water within a couple weeks of being painted. Others are suitable for out-of-water storage.
I used paint remover made for it but it made a heck of a mess and melted the gel coat in a few spots. I wouldn't recommend it. Maybe ask over at www.thehulltruth.com there's tons of info and knowledge on that board. Kinda like a Scubaboard for boaters!
Dave
Dave
matt_unique
Guest
Best tool I have used....you can rent one from Home Depot for about $50 and it will make quick work of the paint. It's important to determine the right tip (will have several to choose from that vary the intensity of the spray) and the pace at which you move the sprayer. Start faster then slow down once you have it just right.
--Matt
--Matt
Lots of ways to remove old paint.
How big is your boat?
Hull material?
Type of paint to be removed?
Work in a boat yard or at home or other?
Are you doing the work yourself or hiring professionals?
Removing bottom paint is a dirty, dangerous mess anyway you do it.
Personally I like abrasive blast with a vacuum to collect the removed paint and recycle the blast media. This is for someone with skill with a blaster because it is easy to go too deep.
Sanding is also OK but again depends on the skill of the operator. I find it slower and messier than blasting.
Chemical strippers can be good if you are into goo.
Pressure washing works, most of the time.
A heat gun and a scraper also works.
If you are in a boat yard they will tell you what ways you can and cannot use there.
How big is your boat?
Hull material?
Type of paint to be removed?
Work in a boat yard or at home or other?
Are you doing the work yourself or hiring professionals?
Removing bottom paint is a dirty, dangerous mess anyway you do it.
Personally I like abrasive blast with a vacuum to collect the removed paint and recycle the blast media. This is for someone with skill with a blaster because it is easy to go too deep.
Sanding is also OK but again depends on the skill of the operator. I find it slower and messier than blasting.
Chemical strippers can be good if you are into goo.
Pressure washing works, most of the time.
A heat gun and a scraper also works.
If you are in a boat yard they will tell you what ways you can and cannot use there.
Thanks, These are all pretty unpleasant options. I was hoping to use paint stripper, but was afraid to hurt the gel coat, same with sanding. I do have access to a commercial powerwasher, and will give that a try. The paint is black, and has been put on too thick in spots, and in some places it is peeling off. It looks like the gelcoat is shiny under it, so I hope it will come off, at least in the heaviest places so that it can be sanded, and recoated. the boat is an 19' Robalo center console, 150 Merc. and is not left in the water. Thanks lots for all the tips, If I have any success, i'll post it.
Under a 40' hull, if you have the money, buy yourself an 8" Fein random orbit sander with a matching vacuum. The vacuum extrqaction is so good that you can skip wearing a poopie suit. The disks are expensive, but that will do the job for you.
Amazon has the 6" model listed for $365 which is WAY cheaper than the 8" job. These tools will not give you arm buzz like cheapass tools. either.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000223PI/102-9477259-2152109?v=glance
There are also the strippers like Peel-A-Way which you slather on and cover with plastic sheets for a day or so and then sludge off.
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/html/DUM/DUMM005.html
There is another way, although this method will pull the flamers on this board like moths to a flame: in a lot of areas of the country, you can find undocumented workers who will do jobs like this for pretty cheap. A few years ago, a friend of mine had a couple of Nepalese visiting her and they needed money so I had them sanding boat bottoms for $6/hour. No web link for finding people like this - you either know how to do it or you don't.
Commercial yards use water blasters now, some of them even robotic, but the psi is something on the order of 3000 on steel hulls. You don't want to mess with stuff like that.
Amazon has the 6" model listed for $365 which is WAY cheaper than the 8" job. These tools will not give you arm buzz like cheapass tools. either.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000223PI/102-9477259-2152109?v=glance
There are also the strippers like Peel-A-Way which you slather on and cover with plastic sheets for a day or so and then sludge off.
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/html/DUM/DUMM005.html
There is another way, although this method will pull the flamers on this board like moths to a flame: in a lot of areas of the country, you can find undocumented workers who will do jobs like this for pretty cheap. A few years ago, a friend of mine had a couple of Nepalese visiting her and they needed money so I had them sanding boat bottoms for $6/hour. No web link for finding people like this - you either know how to do it or you don't.
Commercial yards use water blasters now, some of them even robotic, but the psi is something on the order of 3000 on steel hulls. You don't want to mess with stuff like that.
matt_unique
Guest
With whatever method you choose, place a large drop cloth down to catch the paint chips. Not good for the environment, etc.
--Matt
--Matt
Any paint that is pealing, or just a little loose will come right off with a pressure washer.
In your case use the pressure washer (a small one will work or rent a big one) will get the majority off and then you want to BLOCK sand with a long block to get the hull surface smooth and fair. This will result in higher speed and lower fuel consumption.
I would probably take a day to clean off the old paint and repaint the next day.
This would include reblocking the boat so I can do the entire bottom.
In your case use the pressure washer (a small one will work or rent a big one) will get the majority off and then you want to BLOCK sand with a long block to get the hull surface smooth and fair. This will result in higher speed and lower fuel consumption.
I would probably take a day to clean off the old paint and repaint the next day.
This would include reblocking the boat so I can do the entire bottom.
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