Re: bottom paint removal -best electric vacum sander?
 

here's a few pictures of a boat that was done by me...one of many-i believe we're somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-45 boats...

http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/...ting-7722.html

Re: bottom paint removal -best electric vacum sander?
 

Pelican
I agree, sandblasting done right is good, I have had several Bertrams blasted with sand and all was ok. We usually gained a couple of knots in speed with the cleaning and proper repainting. No experience with soda blasting except on metal (no good) and electrical rotors, (ok).
ET

Re: bottom paint removal -best electric vacum sander?
 

Take it from someone who has been there. Sand?soda is the only way to take off bottom paint.

Check my link and you can see what I did.

Re: bottom paint removal -best electric vacum sander?
 

I have used a product called aqua strip to remove topside paint and had excellent results. A good buddy used it on the bottom paint of his 30+ year old cape dory and he had good results. Some areas required two applications and the best results were achieved by spraying the stripper with water from a small spray bottle (409 cleaner type of bottle) to keep the aqua stripper wet. That being said I sanded the bottom of my 20 seacraft with a random orbital. The boat was upside down so the dust wasn't constantly falling in my face. I had great results. A tyvec suit and a good respirator is a must. No cheap white dust masks for this job.