Prep work for repainting hull of my boat?

[Chris Patterson]

I've heard the painters say before that acetone flashes off too quickly, and just use thinner. I can't help but think alcohol will work very well though.

 

[Ted]

Prep work for repainting hull of my boat

Interprotect is fine without anything on top of it except anti fouling- which is all that VC17 is. It does not have any barrier properties.

I have to disagree with this statement. I had contacted the manufacturer a few years ago specifically about leaving Interprotect uncoated. They told me that the Interprotect will break down with UV exposure. They couldn't say how long it would take because it depended on the geographical location of the boat and the orientation of the surface to the sun. They were very adamant that it should be covered by paint, whether antifouling or topside paint.

 

[woodster]

when you purchase wax remover it is usually acetone so why buy the wax remover if all you are getting is acetone in the first place.....and alcohol has a faster flash point than paint thinner if you use acetone on a saturated rag like micro fiber it woks pretty well at getting the wax off

 

[JRacer]

Uh, this guy is on a freshwater lake. Only bottom paint he should consider is Interlux VC 17 or its clone Petit SR21. Remove all previous bottom paint, fair with something like 3M vinylester fairing compound. Interprotect epoxy barrier coat before VC. For freshwater, VC is great with no buildup. Next season clean and roll a coat of VC again. A Catalina 22 should only need one can if you apply it with a west systems foam roller.

^^^^^THIS.

And for the cracks in the gelcoat, you'll need to grind them out with a little burr type bit in a drill motor or dremmel and then fill them (epoxy) before you apply the barrier coat.

 

[Fred Villiard]

Dewax before sanding, so that you do not drive the wax into gelcoat. A good wax remover is a strong ammonia solution, rince with water, the water should sheet not form beads, then sand when dry.

 

[hawk232]

I always use lacquer thinner for dewaxing and cleaning because I am usually spraying paint and have it around...

 

[Richard Bryer]

I have to disagree with this statement. I had contacted the manufacturer a few years ago specifically about leaving Interprotect uncoated. They told me that the Interprotect will break down with UV exposure. They couldn't say how long it would take because it depended on the geographical location of the boat and the orientation of the surface to the sun. They were very adamant that it should be covered by paint, whether antifouling or topside paint.

What meant was you do not need to put additional barrier coating on top of the IP.

 

[CloudDiver]

I'm doing the bottom, so I have to sand the (very thick) layers of bottom paint off first. In most places the old coating is firmly stuck on so I have to assume they de-waxed the gel coat properly in the first place. Then again, there are a few small areas where the bottom paint has easily chipped away and the gel coat I still glossy. There are no serious blisters now, but in a few test areas I have sanded it seems there may have been before.

Dewax before sanding, so that you do not drive the wax into gelcoat. A good wax remover is a strong ammonia solution, rince with water, the water should sheet not form beads, then sand when dry.