Removing paint

Part-time

Part-time

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536
Is there a way of removing paint without harming the original gel coat underneath?
In some places the white paint is worn of and I can see the nice original gold metal flake.

dscf6009o.jpg
 
chriscraft254

chriscraft254

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Re: Removing paint

Are you saying the boat was originally gold flake and someone painted over the entire boat? Where are you trying to remove paint from on the boat?
 
Part-time

Part-time

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Re: Removing paint

Yes, someone painted everything, interior and all. If you look closely to the rub rail on the bow you can see it's aluminum and a few places that get rubbed alot you can see the gold metal flake real good. I'd like to strip all the paint if I can, but I don't really have the funds to get a gel coat redone this year.
 
chriscraft254

chriscraft254

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Re: Removing paint

Part-time said:
Yes, someone painted everything, interior and all. If you look closely to the rub rail on the bow you can see it's aluminum and a few places that get rubbed alot you can see the gold metal flake real good. I'd like to strip all the paint if I can, but I don't really have the funds to get a gel coat redone this year.
Click to expand...

Its going to depend on what kind of condition the gelcoating was in before it was painted and how much pre work they did for the paint. If prepped really well, the gel coating may or may not be salvageable. I am guessing they painted it for a reason and that reason may be because the gelcoating was in very bad shape estetically.

The only way to really tell is to strip a little off and find out. You can try easy off oven cleaner, or buy a stripper that is gelcoat safe. Though its not the same as bottom paint, it can be stripped. If you can get it stripped some or down to the gelcoating, then you can see if wet sanding the gelcoating will restore it back to a shine. I would start with 320 grit wet sand paper, then 600, then 1500.
 
GT1000000

GT1000000

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Re: Removing paint

CC254 is already here to try and help you make the choice of what to use...

I am only jumping in here to be the "Devil's Advocate"...

And just thinking out loud...:facepalm:

You might find the reason the boat was painted over was because the original gel-coat was badly damaged or faded beyond revival...

I am only saying this so you don't get too disappointed, if that's the case... I hope NOT!, I hope you get lucky like CC did and find that a bit of elbow grease and time and it will look good as new...But,

If it is bad underneath that paint job, it is NOT necessary to re-gel-coat the boat...even though it is a better and tougher finish, you can re-paint the boat with really good, high quality paints that will take years and years of use and abuse, look awesome, and won't cost anywhere near as much as re-gelcoat...

Whatever happens, I'll be rooting for ya...
Good Luck,
GT1M
 
chriscraft254

chriscraft254

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Joined
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Messages
2,445
Re: Removing paint

GT1000000 said:
CC254 is already here to try and help you make the choice of what to use...

I am only jumping in here to be the "Devil's Advocate"...

And just thinking out loud...:facepalm:

You might find the reason the boat was painted over was because the original gel-coat was badly damaged or faded beyond revival...

I am only saying this so you don't get too disappointed, if that's the case... I hope NOT!, I hope you get lucky like CC did and find that a bit of elbow grease and time and it will look good as new...But,

If it is bad underneath that paint job, it is NOT necessary to re-gel-coat the boat...even though it is a better and tougher finish, you can re-paint the boat with really good, high quality paints that will take years and years of use and abuse, look awesome, and won't cost anywhere near as much as re-gelcoat...

Whatever happens, I'll be rooting for ya...
Good Luck,
GT1M
Click to expand...

Yeah, it is all going to depend on whats underneath and the prep work that was done. The metalic flake paints for some reason get baked by the sun and deteriorate badly in most cases.

Repainting is definately an option, either way i would remove whats there because if its chipping off or flaking, it probably wasn't done right to begin with and might not be a good surface to adhere new paint to.

If your doing it yourself, either way can be done pretty cheaply, its when you take it to the marina that your wallet will be hurtin for certain.
 
Part-time

Part-time

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Re: Removing paint

I have tried a few different chemical paint removers on a hull that I'll be scrapping and they all damaged the gel coat.
Any recomendations on some brands that are proven to be safe?
I'll give that easy-off a shot as well.
I don't know what kind of 'prep' they did before painting but around the cleats and in 'high trafic' areas where the paint rubbed off the gel looks 100% better than that paint.
I'm just thinking the guy might of gotten tired of looking at that 70's look at one time and had the boat repainted.
The PO did own that boat for 36 years.
The boat's a '75 and I'm the 2nd owner!
 
chriscraft254

chriscraft254

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Messages
2,445
Re: Removing paint

Part-time said:
I have tried a few different chemical paint removers on a hull that I'll be scrapping and they all damaged the gel coat.
Any recomendations on some brands that are proven to be safe?
I'll give that easy-off a shot as well.
I don't know what kind of 'prep' they did before painting but around the cleats and in 'high trafic' areas where the paint rubbed off the gel looks 100% better than that paint.
I'm just thinking the guy might of gotten tired of looking at that 70's look at one time and had the boat repainted.
The PO did own that boat for 36 years.
The boat's a '75 and I'm the 2nd owner!
Click to expand...

You can look in my thread and see some of the paint strippers I tried. There is also video there showing results, but it was on bottom paint. Any stripper that is gelcoat safe, will say it is gelcoat safe. Some of them tested was marine ready strip, smart strip, graffiti strip, easy off, and a non gelcoat safe Klean strip that did not hurt my gelcoat. That being said, I had three layers of paint and it is different than top paint.

Find one that is gelcoat safe and you will be good to go as far as not hurting the gel. It will probably still have to be wet sanded to look great though. Good luck.

The paint does not look that good, I suspect you may be right, he may have even done it himself not knowing he had to prep it. Thats why I say, strip it and see, you may get lucky.
 
Part-time

Part-time

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Messages
536
Re: Removing paint

Thanks for the help guys.
If it works out good I'll post pics and if it doesn't... well I won't be bragging about it :rolleyes:

BTW, nice boat CC254.
 
chriscraft254

chriscraft254

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Joined
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Messages
2,445
Re: Removing paint

Part-time said:
Thanks for the help guys.
If it works out good I'll post pics and if it doesn't... well I won't be bragging about it :rolleyes:

BTW, nice boat CC254.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, keep us posted, even if it doesn't work out, its all good info for the next guy. I like the old gold flake look on that style hull too. Good luck man
 
J

johnnyClack

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 4, 2012
Messages
45
Re: Removing paint

Yes, I agree more tan like
ly to hash for maintaining gell coat
 
Part-time

Part-time

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Messages
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Re: Removing paint

Well... I don't know what kind of paint was used but it seems that anything that softens the paint, also softens the gel coat!
So I called the PO to see if he remembered what kind of paint was used and he had no idea.
He had it done at a profesional paint shop that closed it's doors over a decade ago.
The reason he had it painted... some chemical had been spilled on the deck badly damaging the finish while stored in his garage.
He said he had enough of the "disco" boat anyways so he had it repainted.
I think I'm just going to try to buff it up as good as I can for this summer and next year it might get a nice silver metal flake.
 
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