My boat has an old bottom paint job that looks pretty shabby and is flaking off all the way under by the keel. The previous owners kept it in the water hence the need for bottom paint. I trailer sail it now and wanted to know what other people have done to improve the looks. It doesn't make sense to put more bottom paint on because 1) I don't keep it in the water 2)it doesn't work if kept out of the water for a period of time and 3) why spend the money on the paint if it will not be effective? Has anyone attempted to strip off all the bottom paint with a chemical remover? I know manual removal is not something an amateur should attempt with all the heavy metals that start flying when you start sanding. What am I to do? :{ Has anyone applied some type of paint over the old bottom paint just for cosmetic purposes. My boat is in excellent condition and looks great except for the old tired bottom paint. Thanks
Old bottom paint
- Thread starter Jonathan Costello
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Pressure Wash (not)
I am in the same situation you are, but when I tried taking a pressure washer to it, I had no success. I took a sand block to it, and with three or four swipes I had done more than the pressure washer. I was using a 2600 Psi washer. I don't want to sand it myself either. So I'm also interested in what options I have to just correct it cosmetically. Kevin
I am in the same situation you are, but when I tried taking a pressure washer to it, I had no success. I took a sand block to it, and with three or four swipes I had done more than the pressure washer. I was using a 2600 Psi washer. I don't want to sand it myself either. So I'm also interested in what options I have to just correct it cosmetically. Kevin
bottom paint
Most car washes won't even take the bugs off my bumper let alone bottom paint. If you really want to self perform this task then mask up, goggle up, grab a random orbital sander & about 100 of the 60 grit sanding pads & have at it. Gill
Most car washes won't even take the bugs off my bumper let alone bottom paint. If you really want to self perform this task then mask up, goggle up, grab a random orbital sander & about 100 of the 60 grit sanding pads & have at it. Gill
Worked on Mine When I did Not Want it To
Guess that is the way it always works. I had two year old West Marine albative paint on it and when I pulled it out of the water to move it to Florida two years agoI stopped at a car wash to knock off the scum and much of the paint came with it. Don't expect it all to come off the first time but it will do it. Chemical stripper will help if your in a hurry. Some white porch paint may take care of it as well. Haze Gray would make quite a statement too. Jonathan I have not forgotten about the pictures, the heater core is in and I'll get them out to you soon.
Guess that is the way it always works. I had two year old West Marine albative paint on it and when I pulled it out of the water to move it to Florida two years agoI stopped at a car wash to knock off the scum and much of the paint came with it. Don't expect it all to come off the first time but it will do it. Chemical stripper will help if your in a hurry. Some white porch paint may take care of it as well. Haze Gray would make quite a statement too. Jonathan I have not forgotten about the pictures, the heater core is in and I'll get them out to you soon.
Peel Away #1
I started doing a little of my own research. It appears that Prictical Sailor did a test and found that Peel Away brand stripper performed better than Interlux's product. The application process sounds neat (not messy) too. You apply the gel and lay a special paper provided in the kit over the gel and wait for it to remove the paint. Once the paint dissolves you just peel off the paper and all the gunk comes off stuck to the paper. It claims that it can remove up to 32 coats of paint in one application and won't harm gelcoat either. I might give it a try.
I started doing a little of my own research. It appears that Prictical Sailor did a test and found that Peel Away brand stripper performed better than Interlux's product. The application process sounds neat (not messy) too. You apply the gel and lay a special paper provided in the kit over the gel and wait for it to remove the paint. Once the paint dissolves you just peel off the paper and all the gunk comes off stuck to the paper. It claims that it can remove up to 32 coats of paint in one application and won't harm gelcoat either. I might give it a try.
Peel Away
I helped do this on a 30'. Don't use marine Peel Away cost much more than the regular Peel Away. I actually called the company and confirmed regular Peel Away is identical, can be bought in at a paint or hardware store and cost much less. Stuff works great. Follow directions.
I helped do this on a 30'. Don't use marine Peel Away cost much more than the regular Peel Away. I actually called the company and confirmed regular Peel Away is identical, can be bought in at a paint or hardware store and cost much less. Stuff works great. Follow directions.
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