Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

My savage currently has 1 weak coat of bottom paint. My plans are to remove it and ultimately paint the entire boat which the painting process may not occur for several months. I do wish to use the boat in between and was wondering what the best removal process would be of the current paint. Stripping it or sanding it off? :D

Re: Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

It depends on what kind of paint is on there, and how well the surface was prepped. My standard answer would be to get someone else to do it :D. Soda blasting seems to be the perferred method. I guess everyone needs to strip one once. I did mine, never again. Stripper, than D/A sander.

Re: Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

If you were closer to me, I could sodablast it...
We've done a 23' SeaCraft recently for a member.
If you're keeping your boat in the water, make sure you use a barrier coat (epoxy) before you bottom coat. Both gel-coat and bottom paint are porous - and who wants blisters?

Re: Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

I too would like to know the best way to remove old bottom paint. If possible, I dont want to damage gelcoat which may or not be good though I assume it will be.

The paint is VERY old, the kind they quit selling YEARS ago. While using mild acid to remove brown stains, it would remove the paint too. I would rather not sand.

Heres a couple pics of what I mean

http://www.neoreality.com/archery/seacraft2.JPG
http://www.neoreality.com/archery/seacraft5.JPG
The rear area is probably the sparsest though the hull has hit and miss areas too

Re: Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

MHO. The 21 I have did have 40 years of bottom paint on it. I tried chemical strippers and sanding. Trust me when I say, take it to a soda blaster, pay the dollars.

Thats what I did. The blasting will not hurt the gel coat. But you will have to prep and paint again.

Re: Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

Hi Ryank

I think the worst job anyone could ever have is sanding the bottom paint off. All that stuff falling on you and those chemicals getting into your lungs nope not me. I did that job the easy way. I through $$$ at the problem and it went away. That’s the only job I really had someone else do for me and still today I am happy with my decision.

Picture #1 before I started.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/fello...edium/0002.jpg

Picture # 2 after soda blasting.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/fello...edium/0024.jpg

Picture # 3 Gel Coated the bottom.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/fello...edium/0059.jpg

Fellow-Ship :D


Just for the Grins

Re: Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

If the boat just has one light coating of bottom paint I think I would try a stripper first before paying several hundred dollars to get it blasted. I used a product called Aquastrip that claims to remove bottom paint and topside paints. I didn't try it on the bottom paint as I had already sanded it off but it worked very very good on the topside paint. Might be worth a try before shelling out the big bucks.

Re: Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

Take it from the guys who've done it and if you got the cash have soda bash. If not check out this test from
practical sailor

http://www.franmar.com/practical.html
I've seen the soy sauce on ebay for $75 ... good luck oh, yeah, let the stripper do the work. Apply with brush usually in one direction, let sit and remove with a 3" putty knife. Save the sanding for paint prep.

Re: Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

I have used this stripper. It works well on everything but bottom paint. I have a quart for sale, it you want to try it on your boat. I would give it a+ on anything but the bottom.

Re: Bottom paint removal Sanding vs Stripping
 

Where are you located ? I need one soda blasted. I hope its near the Big Rock that I fish !