Removing Ablative Paint from Topsides

[MattObjects]

As one of many questionable "repairs," the PO of my Grampian 26 painted the topsides with ablative bottom paint. <bangs head on desk>

I'm presently working on the keel-hull joint, which should be fared out in the next week, weather permitting. When that's complete, I want to get started on prepping the bottom and topsides for repainting. As is usually the case, I'll be doing the bottom with antifouling ablative paint. But I do not want ablative paint on the topsides. Even if it were possible to have topsides paint adhere to the existing ablative paint somehow, I wouldn't want that--I'd like white topsides and the existing ablative is a rather putrescent green. I'd rather my boat not remind me of the split pea soup scene in The Exorcist.

Any suggestions as to how best to strip or otherwise remove the ablative paint from the topsides? I'm not opposed to hard labor, but I am a bit short on time, as I'd like to be in the water at some point this year, and there are other projects to attend to aside from the hull. Thankfully, aside from the paint and the keel-hull joint, the hull is in good shape-- no gouges or dock burn to remedy.

I want to do a good job on this, but not at the expense of actually sailing the boat-- I'll take an ugly boat in the water over a pretty one on a rack any day.

Thanks!

 

[sailaway78]

Pressure washer

If you have access to a pressure washer, I would think that would be a fairly easy way to get most of it off.

 

[MattObjects]

If you have access to a pressure washer, I would think that would be a fairly easy way to get most of it off.

Thanks for the suggestion. I was thinking a more powerful stripper might be required, but I'd prefer the eco-friendliness of a pressure washer if that will be sufficient. I suppose it makes sense that it would be since it'd just speed up the ablative process.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Whoa....what was the PO thinking about? Did he think he owned a submarine? In any event, I have some doubts about a pressure washer getting much of well-adhered paint off although it might be a way to start. I guess my question would be what are your expectations for the final result, and how much time and money do you have to achieve it? I think I'd give some thought to soda-blasting the topside paint off, sanding it, and then roll and tip on some Interlux 2-part Perfection polyeurethane or 1-part Brightside hull and deck paint. If the PO painted the topsides with bottom paint, I would also wonder what other wonderful things he did to this boat.... Good luck with this.

 

[tsmwebb]

Did he paint the entire topside with bottom paint or are you looking at a boot stripe? A few inches of bottom paint above the LWL is a good thing, IMO.

In any case, a good quality, sharp pull scraper will take it off quickly but it is not fun. Peel-away or any of the commercial bottom paint removal products should work, too. If you want to finish the topsides to "Yacht" quality you will then need to sand, fair, sand, fair (dc al coda) , prime and paint. That's where the work and money come in. If it is just a boot stripe issue I'd power blast and sand what you have and put a compatible paint in an acceptable color on top...

--Tom.

 

[MattObjects]

Many other interesting "repairs" were made. The fiberglass interior cabin walls were removed to install particle board (thankfully never put up!), the galley counter was cut out and the sink thrown away, the thru-hulls were glassed over, and the head was removed in favor of a wooden toilet seat hinged above a five gallon bucket. Oh, and all the electrical was tossed overboard because the PO didn't want to be "tracked by the man."

 

[MattObjects]

Did he paint the entire topside with bottom paint or are you looking at a boot stripe? A few inches of bottom paint above the LWL is a good thing, IMO.

Tom,

No, it's not the boot stripe. There is a boot stripe, but it was apparently taped off from the bottom paint as it is still a glossy white. The part I'm talking about extends from the top of the boot stripe all the way to where the hull meets the deck.

 

[Tim R.]

Many other interesting "repairs" were made. The fiberglass interior cabin walls were removed to install particle board (thankfully never put up!), the galley counter was cut out and the sink thrown away, the thru-hulls were glassed over, and the head was removed in favor of a wooden toilet seat hinged above a five gallon bucket. Oh, and all the electrical was tossed overboard because the PO didn't want to be "tracked by the man."

I would swear that your DumbAssPO once frequented this forum

How about posting some pictures. I would love to see the before shot.

I would say that removing and repainting may be the only way to salvage a nice looking boat and the 2 part Perfection is an excellent way to go. All the work you put in will be wasted if you use a 1 part Brightsides as it is not nearly as tough as the Perfection.

I wonder what he covered up? It sounds like you assume the gelcoat underneath is intact. Another thing, I know that removing ablative paint dust from the deck of a boat is extremely hard and very much labor intensive. I can only imagine what kind of stain will be left after actually painting the ablative on.

And for the record, it is more ecofriendly to use a paint remover that you can capture and dispose of properly rather than pressure washing which will leave all that paint in the local water table.

 

[tsmwebb]

Tom,

No, it's not the boot stripe. There is a boot stripe, but it was apparently taped off from the bottom paint as it is still a glossy white. The part I'm talking about extends from the top of the boot stripe all the way to where the hull meets the deck.

Oh... Well, I think it is safe to say that makes your boat unique...

On the upside:

1) you don't need to worry about rubbing against creosote covered pilings.
2) folks will tend not to raft up against you on crowded docks.
3) there is no three
4) you're paint is right for setting the endurance record for sailing rail down on one tack.
5)

My condolences,

--Tom.

 

[George H260]

I assume the P.O. paid YOU to take it off his hands?

 

[RECESS]

Pressure washing with a gas powered 2000 psi machine got more than 90% of my bottom paint off. In many places it took it down to the gel coat. The little that was left came of with very little sanding with an orbital sander.

 

[jibes138]

This must be a joke

Either this is a joke or "the man" is trying to see what advice we give.
1. Who in their right mind would bottom paint topsides using 200.00 a gallon paint??
2. Who would buy such a mess?
3. how can the "fibergalass insides be removed in favor of particle board? what "fiberglass insides?" Either the hull itself or maybe the bulkheads were removed? If the bulkheads were removed the new owner has a lot more to consider than bottom paint. Sounds like this is a chainsaw project, so I agree let's see some pictures or stop this post before "the man" comes to get us by tracking our electronics.

 

[MattObjects]

Either this is a joke or "the man" is trying to see what advice we give.
1. Who in their right mind would bottom paint topsides using 200.00 a gallon paint??
2. Who would buy such a mess?
3. how can the "fibergalass insides be removed in favor of particle board? what "fiberglass insides?" Either the hull itself or maybe the bulkheads were removed? If the bulkheads were removed the new owner has a lot more to consider than bottom paint. Sounds like this is a chainsaw project, so I agree let's see some pictures or stop this post before "the man" comes to get us by tracking our electronics.

While I am trying to keep my sense of humor about the many things wrong with this boat, my post was not meant as a joke. In response to the above:
.

1. Clearly the PO was not in his "right mind." Sad, actually.

2. I bought the boat, the jackstands, and the outboard motor for the value of the jackstands. So the price was right. I've just completed renovation of my 102 year old house so I'm fairly handy. I may also be foolish. I won't pretend that my reasons for liking this boat are in any way rational. Though I believe I am in my right mind, I suspect most crazy people think that.

3. As far as the "fiberglass insides," perhaps I should have been more clear. The boat was made with the cabin interior attached to the hull prior to the decking being attached. Thus the cabinhouse walls are composed of two layers of glassing-- one for the interior walls and one that is actually the underside of the decking. The interior walls (or ceiling, I think the correct term would be) were cut out, leaving the exposed underside of the decking around the perimeter of the interior cabin. There is a picture attached. I posted a question about fixing this earlier this earlier this week with more pictures attached to that post.

I've also attached a picture of the outside of the boat to this post, though it is poor as the sun was setting when it was taken.

 

[sailingdog]

Either this is a joke or "the man" is trying to see what advice we give.
1. Who in their right mind would bottom paint topsides using 200.00 a gallon paint??

No one, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

2. Who would buy such a mess?

If the hull, deck and rigging were in basically good shape, and the price were right, I know a lot of people who might do something like that.

3. how can the "fibergalass insides be removed in favor of particle board? what "fiberglass insides?" Either the hull itself or maybe the bulkheads were removed? If the bulkheads were removed the new owner has a lot more to consider than bottom paint. Sounds like this is a chainsaw project, so I agree let's see some pictures or stop this post before "the man" comes to get us by tracking our electronics.

The interior hull liner was cut away for some reason. The OP has posted photos of this on other threads, and has reposted them here. It wasn't bulkheads, as is obvious in the photos.

 

[MattObjects]

If the hull, deck and rigging were in basically good shape, and the price were right, I know a lot of people who might do something like that.
.

In defense of my sanity, the hull is perfectly sound. I have repaired some superficial crazing around the keel-hull joint where a prior owner (not the PO who sold me the boat) put very thick barrier coat, and I will fix the paint issue somehow, but it is otherwise fine.

The decking is in fine shape--no soft spots or delamination, and only one or two places with superficial cracks in the gel coat. For a boat this age, the deck is nearly pristine.

The standing rigging and sails are in superior shape. The sails were purchased several years ago but never once used, and have been stored indoors properly wrapped in their bags since purchase.

So for the cost and labor of fixing the bottom paint, replacing the electrical, replumbing, refitting the cabin interior, and buying some fresh line and a few other items, I'll have the boat I want, set up how I want it. And the great thing is that I don't have to do anything with the cabin this year. I can sail the boat around the bay after outfitting the cabin with a sleeping bag, a portapotty, and a water jug, then do a complete below decks re-fitting next winter. Again, if I have to choose, I'd rather have a sailing boat than a looking-pretty boat. Maybe not this season, but eventually this boat will be both.

 

[Tim R.]

Sounds like a solid plan Matt. If I wasn't restoring my boat to as new or better condition right now, I would jump on a deal like that. In fact there are 2 boats in my neighborhood that have been sitting for 10 years that I may go and offer to take off their hands. One is real nice. Looks like a later model Santana 20-25 ft.

 

[48dodge]

The PO may have made a common terminology mistake. The mistake of thinking that the hull is the bottom and the topsides are the deck. Maybe h read the can of paint and it said it was for the bottom so he painted the whole thing Or maybe the copper in the paint was acting in conjunction with his tinfoil hat to keep the signals out of his head.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Recess-how long was your boat sitting out of the water before you pressure washed the bottom paint off? I was wondering if bottom paint gets alot harder when it dries out of the water for a long time.
I would try pressure washing it first, because that's easy. Then I would employ chemical warfare on it and find the best industrial chemical stripper available.
You don't want to have to sand all that off. That would clog your sanding disc so bad.
I got a feeling this PO hasn't been tracked by any "man" or woman in a long long time.

48Dodge-Do not apply copper based bottom paint to an aluminum foil protective hat! The copper in the paint will corrode the aluminum and you will lose all your protection from government radio signals! I have tragically seen that happen too many times down here in Texas.

 

[48dodge]

I tried pressure washing the bottom paint off my boat, but no dice. I ended up having to use peel-away and then sand the rest off. My boat had been out of the water for quite some time, I think. Also, I had about 3-4 layers of paint plus a barrier coat to get down to gelcoat.

And don't think I don't know about the copper paint and tinfoil. The slight battery the 2 make actually increases the ability to read your mind! I won't make that mistake again.

 

[sailingdog]

Pressure washing only works on paint that wasn't prepped properly or ablative paints... a hard epoxy paint will usually laugh at most pressure washers if the hull was properly prepped when it was applied.

I tried pressure washing the bottom paint off my boat, but no dice. I ended up having to use peel-away and then sand the rest off. My boat had been out of the water for quite some time, I think. Also, I had about 3-4 layers of paint plus a barrier coat to get down to gelcoat.

And don't think I don't know about the copper paint and tinfoil. The slight battery the 2 make actually increases the ability to read your mind! I won't make that mistake again.