Peel Away Bottom Paint Stripper

[Jim]

Has anyone used the peel away stripper? At $250 for a 5 gal. pail I would like to know how many layers of bottom paint it will remove. According to BoatUS it got a good rating in Practical Sailor. However, will it remove 15 years of bottom paint?

 

[Les Blackwell]

I have used Peal A-Way

I used Peal A-Way on my Hunter 35.5 a few years back. We had about five coats of racing paint on her bottom.We used 5 gallons of paste (it looks like thick oatmeal) and you should put it on with a wall paper brush--the thicker the better. Two of us put it on, one brushing and one laying on the paper. I might add that we did not have enough paper that came with the 5 gallons--I suspect we didn't put the paste on thick enough.We left it on overnight and in the morning, we used big scrappers to scrap it off. It came off right down to the fibreglass. It was absolutely smooth glass although it had a motely color.I would use it again. Not only did it do the job completely, but it seems to be environmentally safe. You take the sheets and just roll it up and put it in the trash can. It might seem expensive but renting sanders and masks in this neck of the woods; adding in time and effort and it seems to be about equal. The work with Peal-A-Way was a lot less time.

 

[Bob Pattersen]

Buy it at Home Depot it's cheaper

I stripped 15 years worth of bottom paint off my hull last full with one application. I looked at the Peel away sold in boat stores and then looked at the same product at my local Home Depot. The product sold at HD does not mention the word marine on the package, but says it is safe to use on fiberglass. I contacted the company and they said it was safe to use on my fiberglass hull, and the marine stuff was the identical product, it was just marketed towards the marine industry. You can buy 5 gallons of it at HD for $100 or 1 gallon containers for $25. Buy the peel away with the peel away paper, the Peel Away 3 w/o the paper doesn't work as well. Best of Luck with the project.

 

[David Eggler]

peel away your problem

This product saved me many hours on my Hunter 27. It removed 22 layers of bottom paint in one application. The key for best results is warm ambient temperature(at least 65 F), thick application (3/16" - 1/4"), and at least 24 hour layup. I started the job with a scraper and spent 8 hours on a 4' by 8' section. I then called the Peel Away rep and he did a test patch that we removed the next day with great results. I then finished the rest of the boat in another 8 hours with peel away.I used the product which requires the paper film and I ended up buying it at Home Depot for much less than the marine store wanted. BE CAREFUL!!!! Peel Away is a strong base and will give give you a bad burn if it contacts skin. Wear eye potection(goggles) and be sure to tape your sleeves to your gloves. I unknowingly dropped a piece during the application process between my sock and the tongue of my sneaker. The first thing I noticed was a bee sting like sensation. Observing no bee, I continued on with the process. A few minutes later I was ripping off my equipment and running for the water hose. I had a nice burn on my instep.

 

[Mike Cummings]

Yes Yes

I sanded a 27 Hunter with 10 coats and said never again. When I purchased the Hunter 34, I decided to give it a try. I used the product in April-May when temperatures at night were about 50, so I ended up having to do two coats. The key is warm temperatures at night and do not let air get in or it will cause the past to harden. Also, if you run out of paper as you will, try freezer paper. Someone on the web told me about it and it works great and is cheap. I just cant remember which side your suppose to use, but a test area will you.Also, tape the ends of the paper when your done. This will help stop the air from getting in..Good LuckMike