Bottom paint removal
 

Does anyone have any wisdom to share re EASY bottom paint removal? There are many old coats and the surface is very rough and uneven. Would prefer soda blast but can't seem to find reasonable price in So. Fla.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

There is a chemical agent out there that claims it removes bottom paint, Don't know if it works or not? Ive seen it at boaters world

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Do a seach on THT for "bix"......there was a thread where a guy described the whole process and what he used.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

There is a product called " Peel Away". I tried it when
I redid my bottom. The results were so-so. I wound up having a guy sand it off and gelcoat the bottom. You used to be able to buy Peel Away @ Home Depot, a lot cheaper than West Marine.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Tom Fabula, who owns Signature Finish, recommends use of a chemical stripper. Says to give it plenty of time to work, and should be able to scrape off w/putty knife. Said to plan on going over it a couple of times, as first coat won't get everything. Also said to plan on some light sanding to get whatever is left.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

There is a product by "Captain John" that is carried by some West Marine stores. It is a store manager's decision on whether to carry it or not. There was some talk of putting it in the inventory on a company wide basis.

Anyway, we had a demo of it one weekend at West when I worked there. First, it is all natural with no caustic components. Two, you need to leave it on and not let it get below 50 degrees. Once applied, (roller, slabbed on by brush or sprayed) it needs to be covered with suran wrap or some other non-poruos film product. Even leave it on all night. Afterward simply take a plastic blade and scrape it off down to the gelcoat letting it simply fall into a paint tray or bucket. (The removed bottom paint is toxic!)

We took 5 coats of bottom paint off a wooden dingy with one application leaving only what paint there was embedded in the grain of the wood. About 80-90% of the wood was totally paint free. The stuff works!

Captain John's web site is:

http://www.captainjohnsboatbrite.com/Soy.htm

He's got a whole line of cleaner/polishing products and I use them for my car, boat, etc. Great products and a real nice guy to deal with!!!

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

I guess this means the stuff you scrape off has to be taken to local household hazardous waste disposal site?!

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

It should be properly disposed of. Its the the dopper in the paint that is toxic, not the pint remover. The paint remover is soy based, but it really works!

He has another product called "Icky-Sticky." My daughter crunched the side of my car door pulling the car into the garage. (She's just getting her lisence). Miner metal bendindig, but a fair amount of paint on the car door. The icky-sticky took it all off in about 4 minuts with NO hard rubbing like you'd expect with rubbing compound. That stuff is citrus based and smells like oranges! Go figure!!

for what it's worth, the thing I'm most impressed is that "Captain John" has his cell phone number on the back of every bottle and takes your call!! He'll answer any question you've got to ask!!! The guy knows it works and believe me, it is better than anything I have used to date.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

It should be properly disposed of. Its the the copper in the paint that is toxic, not the paint remover. The paint remover is soy based, but it really works!

He has another product called "Icky-Sticky." My daughter crunched the side of my car door pulling the car into the garage. (She's just getting her lisence). Miner metal bending, but a fair amount of paint on the car door. The icky-sticky took it all off in about 4 minuts with NO hard rubbing like you'd expect with rubbing compound. That stuff is citrus based and smells like oranges! Go figure!!

For what it's worth, the thing I'm most impressed is that "Captain John" has his cell phone number on the back of every bottle and takes your call!! He'll answer any question you've got to ask!!! The guy knows it works and believe me, it is better than anything I have used to date.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Anyone know how much stripper it would take for a 23 footer?

I have a Tsunami with a hard black bottom paint on it.I try to convince myself that i should just leave it the way it is,but i know deep down i'll end up removing it.
The Captain John stuff seems interesting,but at $125.00 per gallon,i wouldn't want to buy extra.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

A gallon of Soy Strip should do a 23', maybe you'll need an extra quart. If you use SoyStrip, or most anything else for that matter, you don't want to "brush" on/in. Just lay it up on the hull, fairly thickly, and let it do its job. Don't be in a rush to take it off, let it work 4 to 12 hours; it takes longer to break down bottom paint than it takes to break down house paint!!!

With SoyStrip, you'll want to cover it with plastic wrap or some other plastic sheeting product. (I'd use vapor barrier that I buy on a roll.) What you want to accomplish is to not let the product dry out while it is on the hull.

Follow the directions, beware of the lowest temperature likely to occur and follow the safety precautions. Good luck.

Be well.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

could I suggest a Classic Sea Craft Club discount? :)

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Thanks everyone for the info. Biblew, I called Capt. John and ordered a gallon of the soy strip. One gallon cost $125. Miami Soda Blasters wants $900 to strip my 18. I'll post my results in a week or so. .

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Hey John, is CapJohn you with the '97 wht ford pickup? I worked at West Marine in Seabrook, NH when you came in for the demo a few years back. I still can't believe your truck was 5 yrs. old with a 100K miles on it and it looked BRAND NEW!! Those Boat Brite products work!!

If there is some interest expressed, I'm sure this not-so-motley crew on this site just might take you up on the discount offer. They would certainly smart to do so!!!

Be well.- Biglew

PS- Thanks for the Icky Sticky. It took the house paint off my car where my daughter had traded paint with the garage door frame like nobody's business. Just wiped it on, gave a couple of minutes and then wiped it and the garage paint off leaving the car's paint looking like new.

I use the boat soap to wash my car and it gets it clean and even takes the road film off, 1-2-3.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

I used oven cleaner several years ago very successfully. Used six (6) cans on a 24' boat.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

That just might work!! Any effect of the gelcoat?

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Peel Away works good for me. Still a lame job no matter how you do it. LIke he said DONT buy it from boats stores, get it from Home depot. 1/3 the $$$$.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

I found this web site.
Soy Paint Stripper

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

No bad affect on the gelcoat. I sprayed on, let it work until it looked like the bottompaint was soft (a few minutes), then used a paint scraper to scrape off the paint. Most areas took two or three times to completely remove the paint. I washed the area with water and then soap and water when I was finished for the day. Laying on my back, in February, I only worked for about 2 hours at a time. It took me two weekends.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

John-Yes, our crew would be interested in a group discount. Thanks for the offer.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Just tell me how to order to get that club discount.... :D

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

I bought a gallon of this stuff. It works very good on the top coat paint. However it hardly budged the bottom paint.
I let it sit over night followed instructions. I am happy with the top coat removal.
For my time and effort I will take the boat to a boat yard and have them blast off the bottom for about $700. It is worth that much not to fart around with something that is an ugly job. The topside is OK since the stuff does wrinkle it and it is easy to wash off.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

The Soy Stripper did not do a very good job. First application was covered with wrap and left overnight. Some sections scraped almost clean but most did not. Second application was same and then pressure washed off. Little changed. It looks like I'll have to take the plunge and have it soda blasted. I will use the little I have left on varnish. I think it will be fine for that.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Ditto that. Topside great...bottom no way :(

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Well Keys, my warm weathered friend, I do apologize for the performance of the Soy Stripper. In defense of the product (having been in the trenches with it for several years)I believe that you may have allowed it to remain on the surface unsupervised for too long and therefore it went 180 softening the paint (as you found in some areas) BUT then allowed the paint to return to its hardened state integrated with the (then likely) hardened Soy Stripper. I can relate and it is a bummer to return expecting to find "mush" and instead your looking for the # of Miami Soda Blasters ( btw I have their # if you need it).

Guys and girls and fellow Classic Seacraft owners, I started this business to bring solutions to nuisances that we all have had either no solution or only the use of really harsh chemicals would do, to our industry. The Soy Stripper has had many happy endings and far fewer unhappy. I only wish I could have have assisted you in getting the results you wanted. Honestly, if some of the paint scraped off to the gelcoat - why not all of it - right?

So....

At this point I am putting the "ball" in your court. I want to retain respect from you and your fellow Classic Sea Craft Club members. You tell me what you would like to me to do. Urgency is upon us as I am off to the "temperate zone" of SW & SE Florida Sunday morning for final testing of an absolute breakthrough in the restoration and preservation of even our most tired gelcoat. And I want to share this new chemistry with YOU ALL without a "black eye" from the Soy Stripper.

Please respond tonight or Saturday as my warehouse will be closed for inventory for the week-actually with the testing comes some sportfishing with the staff - great times and a good "January Thaw" for us yanks.

Standing by...

Captain John

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

In this particular case I don't buy into your explanation of why it did not work.

FOR THE BOTTOM ONLY...I tried every time combination from one hour to 10 hours...and it did not budge the paint to my satisfaction.

TOP ONLY...left on over night covered (just like bottom) every thing was wrinkled and came off very easy.

I never had great expectations for the bottom. However I did not want to use ZIP STRIP on the top paint, so the SOY Strip was excellent for my purpose. :rolleyes:

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

I took my 18 to Miami Sodablasters. They were great! Since my boat had no motor or T-top it fit into their booth, so less set up time. The fee was most reasonable and the work was done quickly. Virtually all paint has been removed. Now the bottom needs only a light sanding. I strongly recomend these guys.

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

Any more recommendations to get the bottom paint off? I tried a citrus remover with poor results,and gave the oven cleaner a shot,again with poor results.
I'm wondering if anyone knows of a soda blaster in the new england area?(western Ma.).
I may end up going that way,which is probably the best,but the cheap side of me wants to do it myself to save some green.

I was surfing the net today and found the following concoction that some guy came up with,I copied and pasted it below.
What do you think?
(I thought that oven cleaner was basically lye,yes?)


************************************************** *********
The easy way (but a little dangerous) -- Gloves and goggles are a
must. Also be warned that this works best in warm weather -- 60
degrees or better -- Warmer is better

Go to the $1 store and get 3 plastic buckets, some cheap paint
brushes, some plastic spatulas. And a plastic drop cloth.

Then go to the Supermarket and get some cornstarch and lye (NOT drain
cleaner, plain old lye)

Put the drop cloth under your boat

Fill 2 buckets 1/3 full of cool water

To 1 add 1 can (I think it comes in 14 OZ sizes) lye stirring
carefully with a stick -- the splashes will eat your clothing, and
burn your skin

To the other add about 1/2 box Cornstarch, again stirring well

Then slowly add the cornstarch mix to the lye mix while stirring --
stop when it gets to the consistency of pancake batter. Save any
remains for the next mix.

Slather it on the hull as thick as you can with one of the paint brushes

Go get coffee, or your beverage of choice -- come back in about 20 min

Scrape off the resulting glop with a plastic scraper (remember Gloves
and goggles) and put it in Bucket #3 for proper disposal

Repeat if necessary, but I removed about 20 years of paint from a 28'
boat this way in about 2 days -- usually 1 coat of glop is enough --
if it's cool, or doesn't seem to be working -- wait longer for the
bottom paint to soften.

When finished with a section, flush with a lot of water. If you get
any on yourself flush with water -- if you get any in your eyes -- get
medical attention.

Don't believe me -- try it on a small section first -- won't cost
much. I have wondered if someone could use Tyvex and stick it to the
glop as a poor mans peal-away system.
************************************************** **********

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

What is your time worth? Removing bottom paint is the pits....I had my soda blasted off and it was worth every penny. If it takes these guys 3-4 hours, you might be there for the rest of your life. :D

Re: Bottom paint removal
 

I second the soda blasting. Brought mine home afterwards and it took about three hours to get the rest of the paint offthe chines and the bottom slick so it could be faired out.