My Hunter 27 (1984) had not been out of the water for over four years! It was not a pretty sight. When the barnacles were scraped, thick layers of anti fauling paint showed with the paint chipped off in many places where the original jel coat came through, The paint is hard as a rock. How do I get the rest off so that I can restore a smooth surface?
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Chemicals?
They have special bottom paint removers now. I haven't tried them, but a test spot might be worth a try. When I took the paint off my old 25 I used lots of scraping and sanding. File the corners off the scraper blades to prevent gouging the gel coat. Sand blasting sounds a little too agressive to me.
They have special bottom paint removers now. I haven't tried them, but a test spot might be worth a try. When I took the paint off my old 25 I used lots of scraping and sanding. File the corners off the scraper blades to prevent gouging the gel coat. Sand blasting sounds a little too agressive to me.
Scrape and sand...
I agree with Rick- Round the corners on your scraper, but scraping and sanding is by far the fastest and easiest method of removing bottom paint. When I repainted my H23 earlier this year, I tried several different methods of paint removal- Chemicals and plastic scrapers, then chemicals with metal scrapers, then just using the scrapers without chemicals... and then I moved the boat to a yard where I could use an electric sander. The sander with 120 grit paper worked best of all, stripping as much as any other method in as little as half the time. Good luck! --Jon Bastien H23 '2 Sheets to the Wind' H25 'Adagio'
I agree with Rick- Round the corners on your scraper, but scraping and sanding is by far the fastest and easiest method of removing bottom paint. When I repainted my H23 earlier this year, I tried several different methods of paint removal- Chemicals and plastic scrapers, then chemicals with metal scrapers, then just using the scrapers without chemicals... and then I moved the boat to a yard where I could use an electric sander. The sander with 120 grit paper worked best of all, stripping as much as any other method in as little as half the time. Good luck! --Jon Bastien H23 '2 Sheets to the Wind' H25 'Adagio'
Gelled paint stripping chemical
worked for me on a 7 year old paint job. I just got some gallon cans of it at a hardware store and rolled it on. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and scrape it off with a plastic scraper. Put an old carpet under the work and you won't even have much to clean up later. Just throw away the carpet afterwards and let the solvents evaporate out of the sludge and you can toss that too. I did have to sand a little but the chemical stripper worked very well for me. No dramatic protection or tent was needed either. Sanding worries me re: future blisters. This method has served me well in that regard - three small blisters in over ten years.
worked for me on a 7 year old paint job. I just got some gallon cans of it at a hardware store and rolled it on. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and scrape it off with a plastic scraper. Put an old carpet under the work and you won't even have much to clean up later. Just throw away the carpet afterwards and let the solvents evaporate out of the sludge and you can toss that too. I did have to sand a little but the chemical stripper worked very well for me. No dramatic protection or tent was needed either. Sanding worries me re: future blisters. This method has served me well in that regard - three small blisters in over ten years.
Hey Pat.......
Do you have the name of that gelled paint remover you used....Sounds like I may try it this year... Thanks..
Do you have the name of that gelled paint remover you used....Sounds like I may try it this year... Thanks..
Sanding
I just finished that very same task. Boy am I glad its over!! I have a 85' 28.5 and its bottom was in much the same condition as yours. I used #16 grit on a pistol grip air sander followed by #40 grit using a Dual action air sander. Only took two good days of work to do it. I am glad it produced blisters cause now I know where to do repairs. It is very important to know where they are and to repair them. If you are going to do that much work you should do it right the first time. It will save work and money. After she is all cleaned up and blisters are repaired apply 3-4 coats of barrier and 2-3 coats of antifoul. You will be very happy with the results and you boat will have a new lease on life.
I just finished that very same task. Boy am I glad its over!! I have a 85' 28.5 and its bottom was in much the same condition as yours. I used #16 grit on a pistol grip air sander followed by #40 grit using a Dual action air sander. Only took two good days of work to do it. I am glad it produced blisters cause now I know where to do repairs. It is very important to know where they are and to repair them. If you are going to do that much work you should do it right the first time. It will save work and money. After she is all cleaned up and blisters are repaired apply 3-4 coats of barrier and 2-3 coats of antifoul. You will be very happy with the results and you boat will have a new lease on life.
Peel Away Stripper
I had same problem on a 22ft boat. Used Peel Away stripper. It is very thick and comes with a plastisized paper that you cover it with that keeps it from drying out. You'll need at least 2 gallons at $54.99 a gallon at West. May find it cheaper elsewhere. When they say put it on thick, they mean it. try for a 1/8 to 1/4 layer and let it sit overnight or 12 hours. If you get cheap and spread it thinner, you'll just have to do it again. My biggest problem was trying to get it on and covered before started peeling the paint and flowing. I was working from a dingy under a boat on a boat lift so it wasn't easy. On land with a helper should be a lot easier. Watch out for regular strippers that you find in paint stores. Some of them will soften the gel coat enough to ruin the water proofing integrity. After stripping, scraping and sanding, you'll need to protect the hull to prevent blisters. Lots of products on the market for that. Good Luck
I had same problem on a 22ft boat. Used Peel Away stripper. It is very thick and comes with a plastisized paper that you cover it with that keeps it from drying out. You'll need at least 2 gallons at $54.99 a gallon at West. May find it cheaper elsewhere. When they say put it on thick, they mean it. try for a 1/8 to 1/4 layer and let it sit overnight or 12 hours. If you get cheap and spread it thinner, you'll just have to do it again. My biggest problem was trying to get it on and covered before started peeling the paint and flowing. I was working from a dingy under a boat on a boat lift so it wasn't easy. On land with a helper should be a lot easier. Watch out for regular strippers that you find in paint stores. Some of them will soften the gel coat enough to ruin the water proofing integrity. After stripping, scraping and sanding, you'll need to protect the hull to prevent blisters. Lots of products on the market for that. Good Luck
I tried several kinds of stripper
and the thicker stuff worked best. It cost about $20/gal and I used 2 gallons on a 26 footer with a little left over. I do not remember the brand. The main thing is not to leave it on too long or it could damage the gel coat. Try not to apply it to bare gel coat for that reason. I did not find any damage to the gel coat from using this stuff and it is so much better than sanding that I wouldn't do it any other way now that I know about this method. Generally, I left it about 15 to 20 minutes. Twice that should not be a problem but you should work faster than that. Do not try to cover too much area at one time and you won't have a problem. I made my own scrapers out of some scrap plexiglass and they worked well. You do not have to get it completely clean - just enough to find and repair blisters etc. and paint it again.
and the thicker stuff worked best. It cost about $20/gal and I used 2 gallons on a 26 footer with a little left over. I do not remember the brand. The main thing is not to leave it on too long or it could damage the gel coat. Try not to apply it to bare gel coat for that reason. I did not find any damage to the gel coat from using this stuff and it is so much better than sanding that I wouldn't do it any other way now that I know about this method. Generally, I left it about 15 to 20 minutes. Twice that should not be a problem but you should work faster than that. Do not try to cover too much area at one time and you won't have a problem. I made my own scrapers out of some scrap plexiglass and they worked well. You do not have to get it completely clean - just enough to find and repair blisters etc. and paint it again.
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