Remove paint from fiberglass

[nightvision]

Hi all,<br />I have a small fishing boat that have been painted several years back. There are some chipping so I can see the orginal white gelcoat. I like to remove the paint so I can repaint it with my color of choice. Here are my questions:<br /><br />a. What is the best way remove the paint? I checked into some paint strippers and could not find a fiberglass safe product. Any product recommendations? <br /><br />b. I thought about using 3000 psi power water?<br /><br />c. I guess sanding is the prefer option. Any instructions for this process would be appreciated.<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[tengals123]

Re: Remove paint from fiberglass

yep, clean, sand, prep, prime and paint......( from what i have gathered.

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Remove paint from fiberglass

You can use ordinary paint stripper if you work on a small area at a time. There's a reasonable time between it softening the paint and attacking the gelcoat, so as long as you scrape it off before this you'll be OK. <br />Try to work on a square foot or so at a time, better still have a helper, one painting on the stripper and the other following behind scraping it off.<br />When it's all off wet sand and wash down to prep it for the new paint.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Remove paint from fiberglass

Is the paint that's on it now Peeling ???<br /><br />If the paint on it is Holding,+ Not Peeling,<br />Just sand it Smooth,+ Paint Over it.............

 

[nightvision]

Re: Remove paint from fiberglass

Hi all,<br />Thanks for the replay. To answer your question the paint is cracking in certain areas and I can chip it off with a knife. It is also cracking in some some places. <br /><br />I'm just thinking that if I use striper and in small area it might work. i'm just afraid that it might eat throught the fiber glass. Since I'm going to prep and paint I don't think damage to the gelcoat will be of major concern. Right?

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Remove paint from fiberglass

You're unlikely to do any damage to the gelcoat unless the active paint stripper comes in direct contact with it, even then it takes some time to do anything more than minor surface damage. As you say you'll be painting it anyway so it'll require sanding, so don't worry about it!