Removing Bottom Paint Using Roll-Of

[geoffschultz]

Removing Micron CSC/Extra Bottom Paint Using Roll-Of

The other day I discovered that you can remove Micron bottom paint using a product called Roll-Off. Roll-Off is a cleaning product that we use on very tough stains. It does a great job of removing stains such as the brown "beard" that you get going down tannic waterways, waterline scum and even stains on clothes.

Anyhow, I tried some today to remove a brown stain on my bottom paint caused by tannic water. I sprayed it on an area by the waterline, let it sit for a couple of minutes and then scrubbed it using a coarse nylon brush. Much to my surprise it stripped the paint to the barrier coat! I have a combination of Micron CSC and Micron Extra on the boat, so I have no idea if this works for other paints. However, this looks like a great alternative to sanding/strippers!

-- Geoff

 

[Tim R.]

Geoff, wetting either of those ablative paints and scrubbing hard will remove them. The cleaner you used probably helped accelerate the process a bit but the real test is to see what it does to hard paint.

 

[geoffschultz]

Tim,

This wasn't a hard scrub. I've scrubbed the bottom many times and have never gone through them like this.

-- Geoff

 

[Maine Sail]

geoff

Not only did it help remove the bottom paint when combined with a scrub brush it ruined its effectiveness. Roll-Off is an acid based cleaner. The acids will attack the copper in bottom paint and can ruin it's effectiveness. Acid based cleaners should not be used on bottom paint, especially multi-season ablatives, because it can make them ineffective..

 

[sailingdog]

Basically, any acid based cleaner would have done just as much... MaryKate On&Off gel comes to mind... However, I seriously doubt it'll do anything to a hard epoxy based bottom paint, other than ruin its effectiveness.

 

[CharlieCobra]

I'm currently using Aqua Strip, a non-toxic, biodegradable marine paint stripper. I have as many as 20 coats of ablative on the boat, up to 3/8" thick in places. It takes manual scraping to peel this crap off down to the barrier coat. Not an easy job...

 

[BrianW]

Thanks Geoff. Your discovery sparked some good discussions and solutions. BrianW