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View Full Version : What is the safest way to remove bottom paint?



Brian Freeman
12-31-2004, 10:36 AM
Can anyone recommend a product to safely remove bottom paint without damaging the gel-coat?

lee
12-31-2004, 10:55 AM
the only way to do it right i have been told is by hand

Hotboat
12-31-2004, 11:32 AM
Try a product called "Peel Away". You can pruchase it at any good marine supply store. Non toxic and does not burn your skin. I have used it to remove bottom paint on a Donzi in the basement and it works great. Doesn't stink up the place. After I scraped it off, I wet sanded the bottom with 600 and buffed it. Slick as glass and you can not tell it was ever painted.

Cuda
12-31-2004, 12:06 PM
I used a pressure washer with a sand blasting attachment.

I tried chemical remover, and then tried scraping it off. After two days of scraping, I rented the sandblaster and had it done in a couple hours with #550 pounds of fine sand.

Lenny
12-31-2004, 01:31 PM
Stove cleaner (Easy Off) works. As does walnut shelling.

Cuda
12-31-2004, 01:41 PM
Stove cleaner (Easy Off) works. As does walnut shelling.

Easy off will work with some bottom paints. On another boat I had with bp, when I used Easy Off on it, I ended up with clean bottom paint. :( I had that one bead blasted, Do not go the bead blasting route.

Brian Freeman
12-31-2004, 02:41 PM
will the sanding blast route ruin the gel-coat??????

Brian Freeman
12-31-2004, 02:47 PM
just spray the easy off on and hose it off????? or how do you use the easy off?

Cuda
12-31-2004, 03:03 PM
will the sanding blast route ruin the gel-coat??????

You have to be careful on convex curves. I got through the gel in a couple spots, but it shouldn't be a big deal to touch it up. I'm going to do the bottom in polyurethane though.

motorcity
12-31-2004, 04:47 PM
You might want to try automotive brake fluid, it will remove paint slowly.

Lenny
12-31-2004, 07:06 PM
Spray on easy off, let it sit a bit, KEEP IT AWAY FROM ALUMINUM AND STEEL, and then hose it off. It works on the stuff I have had. I doesn't touch the gel.

Bead blasting and sandblasting will RUIN your gel-coat. Walnut shell blasting will NOT. That is how they strip Vettes for restoration.

Cuda
12-31-2004, 07:29 PM
Bead blasting and sandblasting will RUIN your gel-coat. Walnut shell blasting will NOT. That is how they strip Vettes for restoration.


The guy that bead blasted mine did vettes too. It looked like it was shot with 7.5 birdshot in some places.

Lenny
12-31-2004, 07:41 PM
Cuda, beads are NOT walnut shells.

http://www.kramerindustriesonline.com/media/abrasive/walnut.htm


Preserves gel-coat when removing paint from fiberglass boats

Cuda
12-31-2004, 07:51 PM
Yes, it was just that I was pointing out that this guy did vettes too with beads. My solution after having two boats with bottom paint, is to NEVER buy one again, no matter how good a deal I think it is.

rickrsbro
12-31-2004, 09:44 PM
some are more toxic than others. one part or two part might require different methods to remove. interlux has a pretty informative site. look for the guide.
interlux site (http://www.yachtpaint.com/)

Moody Blu'
01-07-2005, 07:51 AM
I used peel away and it worked pretty good. now that I am got my hands on a trailer I will be taking off the bottom paint :cool:

roadtrip se
01-07-2005, 11:08 AM
Worked for me in the past...

Formula Jr
01-07-2005, 03:58 PM
We used Stripeez on a 55 foot sailboat from overseas once. We couldn't sand it cause the anti-flowling paint had cynide in it. This was one of the rings of hell. Not sure where that was on the Dante scale but it was way down there as the stuff went right though the moon suits and the gloves and thank god no one got it in their eyes.

Oven-off makes a lot of sense here. Be sure to have the fans running.

DON N.
01-07-2005, 05:47 PM
How About Sodium Bicarbonate ( Arm & Hammer ) I Thought I Read They Were Stripping Paint From Corvettes With That .