Bottom Paint Removal

[Walpole]

I am in the process of fixing up a 1988 Celebrity Bow Rider. The boat was used in the ocean.

There is a black coat of bottom paint on the boat that I want to remove.

From what I understand there are basicaly two types of bottom paint. Do not know what they are but thought I read some where that there are two types.

How do I tell which one is on my boat and what is the best product to remove it?

The boat is being stored out of the water and thus no need for the bottom paint and it is looking ugly!!!!

Thanks

 

[gcboat]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

The initial prep for applying bottom paint is to sand the bottom really good - and the paper used is 80#. So with that in mind removing all of your paint will leave a bunch of paper marks. Now, you could refair and regel the bottom or simply recoat with anti fouling ( bottom paint ). Removing bottom paint is not something most folks look forward to. It's messy, dangerous and a potential EPA hazard if done in a haphazard way. However there is another choice - a little on the expensive side but it does work:http://www.dumondchemicals.com/smart-strip.htm. Or you might just look for a company that does soda blasting in your area. No matter which way you go there is gonna' be a few bucks spent.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

I am nearing the point where I need to remove my bottom paint as well. Based on my experience refinishing my boat so far, I can tell you using a remover to get coatings off is far easier than simply sanding them away. I used removers to get the old stripes off my hull. I also used removers to strip some of the woodwork.
Sanding is messy and uncomfortable. Using a remover takes a little technique, but it is worth learning the process. After getting the bottom coat off, some sanding will be needed to prep for the next step but it is far better than sanding off the paint.
If your boat is fiberglass, always use a remover that is safe for gelcoated surfaces. Unfortunately, the paint remover we boaters need is yet another specialty product we have to get specifically for marine applications. Paint removers can soften and damage the substrate if you use the wrong kind. Read the instructions on the container.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

Use a marine paint stripper to remove to bottom paint. Bursh it on, let it sit and then use a putty knife to scrape it off. You will still need to do some sanding to get all the residue. After the paint is off, the botton may still be ugly and require some paint to look good. A heat gun/putty knife can also be used, although it is much more work than the stripper.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

Check to see if it is really paint. Get a green scrub pad and some simple green cleaner and rub near the edge of the paint. I had purchased a boat many years ago and it turned out that what I thought was paint was years and years of neglect..... oil staining from the water combined with algea.

I ended up sanding it all off with 150 on an orbital. Tons of work.

 

[mcgowan30]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

Ok, here is a potentially stupid question.

How do I remove the paint, and repaint it?

I understand the strippers and sanding and all, but the boat is a 21 footer that weighs over 3000 pounds and will be resting on a wobble roller trailer. Am I to assume that I will have to lay under the trailer and strip and sand everything I can reach - then try to move the boat back or forward on the trailer to get the spots that were over the rollers?

Or is there another way?

The boat is a 21'' Carver Camper.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

Remove the trailer, put the boat on blocks, then go to town. I have not done it yet but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn.

Drop the trailer tongue down to the floor. This will left the stern. Place jack stands with plywood on each corner of the stern. Make sure the plywood is what touches the boat with out any pressure points. Now lift the tongue up. This will take the stern off the trailer. Now block the keel around before the keel curves up for the bow. Little by little, pull the trailer out moving the the blocks to pass the crossbars of the trailer.

I'm slowly sanding my bottom paint away with 80 grit on a polisher. Wear an appropriate respirator, eye protection, paint suit, and drink lots of water if your in the heat.

Good luck!!!

 

[Walpole]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

Thanks for all the good conversation. I think it will be a project for next spring. Already have done alot of work to the boat. Is there any harm in leaving the paint as is for a while?

At any rate it does sound like a ton of work. I think I will use the method of a paint stripper first and then sand from there to get it to look half decent.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

No there is no problem leaving it. I would do a thorough inspection for any blistering or damage you may that could have trapped water. If you have blisters, you will want to open them up to allow for drying while the boat sits. It can take months for the hull to dry properly. You wont want to wait for the hull to get dry when you start next spring. Its best to open them now so you have plenty of dry time.

 

[Walpole]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

Thanks.

 

[volsen]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

I own Miami Soda Blasters and since '04, we have removed the bottom paint from over 300 boats. Most are to be repainted. To go back to gel coat presents a different situation. If all the paint is removed, a certain amount of gel coat will be removed or profiled. The next step is wet sanding, followed by compounding and polishing. Gel coat is already quite thin. If several very thin layers are further removed, sometimes the gel coat gets a transparent appearance which would then require re gelcoating or painting. That's why we leave a bit of a stain or color on the bottom. It serves as a guide to the wet sander. The boat also needs to be taked to a quality boat yard where they can remove it from the trailer and properly block it. It is also a good idea to find someone with very large forearms who has experience wet sanding, because his job will be a lot tougher than ours. The other thing you have to face is that knowbody knows what is under the paint until we take it off.

Lots of luck

Capt. Vic

 

[Big Keepers]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

I wouldn't bother to try and remove the bottom paint. If you're going to be using it in salt, use it a lot. The salt water will help strip some of the paint off. I re-painted my ugly bottom black just to make it look neat. I'll let that sit for a while and see what the salt blasting does. I won't be re-painting it any time soon.

 

[Walpole]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

I do take the boat in the salt water and it is removing the paint. Just looks nasty!!

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal

I wonder what soda blasting goes for....