bottom paint removal -best electric vacum sander?

[pelican]

Do your sinuses and lungs a favor. If you are going to do it yourself use chemicals. You say thin? Maybe one one those "environmentally friendly" types will work. Blasting will cause gelcoat issues, and no matter which vaccuum sander you use you will be breathing the dust and changing the paper often.
Just my opinion.

false...

i've lost count of the boats i've refinished on the bottoms-all by sand blasting,and,baking soda blasting.gel coat is not damaged,it will have a "profile" on it,but not damaged.if it blows out,there were voids.pressure washing uses way more pressure than sand/soda blasting.
that $1,200 price you got,that's steep,it's usually $30-$35 per foot
i qulote the entire job,blasting,cleaning,finish sanding,and solvent washing,followed by barrier coating,and finishing in micron csc at $100 per ft