"Helpful" little hands

[ontherocks83]

Today I was putting on a fresh coat of bottom paint and my children were helping me. As I was rolling on new ablative, my 5 year old was using a paint brush and getting the spots I "missed". After a while I heard him cheerfully say, Dad look I got this big spot you missed. As I looked over he was ever so proudly pointing at the depth sounder which he just applied a new coat of paint to. I'd like to say that I did not say oh in front of him...….but I did. I wiped it off with a rag as quickly as I could but there are definitely remnants / a haze of paint still on it.

Is there a way to either wet sand the small traces of paint off of it, or some better method? I forgot to take a picture of it and will try to do tomorrow. Does anyone have any suggestions as to something to try since I am splashing soon and don't want to have to haul her to fix the depth sounder.

 

[justsomeguy]

You might try a rag with a bit of alcohol.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Acetone

 

[Davidasailor26]

I wouldn’t worry about it. If you have it down to just a haze I’d be very surprised if there were any harmful effects. Since it’s ablative it should ablate off over time. The little coating that’s on there now shouldn’t cause any interference. There are specially formulated transducer paints that likely leave a thicker residue than that. Ive heard that the solvents in conventional paints aren’t great for plastic of the transducer, but any harm that would cause is already done now, and using a chemical to remove the haze would probably only make that worse.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I'd keep any organic solvents away from the plastic surface as they may do further damage. The transducer bottom paint I use is a water soluble:


The stuff is powerful as every year the rest of the bottom has slime but the transducer is spotless. Rumour has it that it's recycled nuclear waste.

As far as what was applied by you trusty apprentice, I'd forget it as the worst that happened was that the plastic lens was slightly etched by the bottom paint organic solvents. No effect on the performance of the sensor as only air or disconnected layers of solid material will affect it.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I agree with the do nothing camp. Of course, I'm a big fan of doing nothing. That's why I took up farming .
If it does affect the performance, it will only be temporary.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[jaysweet]

I've been painting the depth transducer since 2004. Never had a problem: it works fine.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I've been painting the depth transducer since 2004. Never had a problem: it works fine.

+1

 

[dlochner]

As others have said, not a big deal. I would avoid using chemicals to clean it. No telling what acetone or other solvents will do to the plastic. One of the reasons I switched to a water based antifouling paint.

 

[RoyS]

I paint mine with bottom paint without problems. Which is worse barnacles or paint for the transducer. Your helper did the right thing.