Soda Blasting

[edgutgesell]

Hi all, I have just acquired a fiberglass boat that spent one season in a saltwater slip and it didn't have anti-fouling paint. Needless to say the bottom was a mess. I had the larger marine growth removed via pressure washing but the barnacle base rings are still there. I did some scraping but I have alot yet to scrape. I have heard that soda blasting can remove the calcium rings without doing the damage to the gel coat that scraping does. I understand that the soda they use is baking soda and is environmentally safe.

Has anyone had this done to their boat and what were the results. There is a company in S. Jersey that I am considering that does this service, so your response is greatly appreciated!!

 

[tommays]

Re: Soda Blasting

I have used a littel bit of everything over the years includeing walnut shells in my blasting cabinet

And generally barnacle stuff is harder than gelcoat :devil:

To not harm the gelcoat the blaster would have to almost go at the stuff like and airbrush artist


Tommays

 

[samsam]

Re: Soda Blasting

You could try muratic acid, the stuff they use to clean fresh cement off new stonework. Since you mention environmentally safe, you probably won't try it, but if you do, the procedure is to wear rubber gloves(not wimpy latex ones), goggles, crappy clothes and something on a pole to swab it on. If you don't have a respirater with the correct cartridges, you can take a big breath and dart in , swab some on and then run away. You might try a paint roller. Another thing that will take off a wide assortment of stuff is Sno-Bowl toilet bowel cleaner. It won't take your breath away like the m acid, but it is pretty caustic so gloves,goggles, etc is helpfull, along with a garden hose to wash off any accidents or the whole project when you're done. Test a small area first. Sam