stripping paint question?

[GeorgiaBII]

I've got a new to me Hunter 22 (85 model) that the previous owner has painted to death. Even painted over stripes and decals... yuck! What I want to do is strip everything off and see what the gel coat looks like and go from there. Is there a recognized best product to do this without killing the bank or my back?

Boat is on the trailer at my house so I can do just about anything I want without worry.

Thanks!

 

[Brian S]

Our former club commodore re-did his Santana 2023 this past spring. Here's what he said:

Researching striping agents I came across this product, "Back to Nature, Tough2 Strip" The per gallon price was higher then others but the claim was it did not need to be neutralized after application. Some of the other products with lower costs needed a purchase of washing agents. The two together were very close in price per gallon.

What I have found is this product has the neutral pH feature, nice. A second feature is application - pH neutral means easy application, even by bare hand!! The product is like jelly, you apply a thick layer, in 4 hours it turns white, use a triangle scrapper - four to five layers - off! After application wash off your hands or brush and roller with water - gone. It does a great job on the water line vinyl tape - peels off, no need to use a heat gun of scrapper. After scrapping, the layers you can power wash the surface to remove any left over product or paint.

SUMMARY: Back to Nature, Tough2 Strip makes removing bottom paint very easy and is eco friendly.

 

[Bob J.]

Go to a real auto parts store & ask about at a product called "marine" paint stripper.
It's $50.00 a gallon, it works but be aware it's pretty potent.

 

[tommays]

Well the 22' thing is in your favor as it is about 1/4 the surface area of a 29'


BUT it is highly unlikely that anything below all the muck is going to be in salvageable condition no matter how careful you remove the paint

So you pretty much have to be committed to painting to reach the desired end result

 

[wufibugs]

You could rent a compressor and soda blast (blaster is $75 at HB. 40 lbs of soda will net out at about $25 with their coupon. Just make sure you strain the medium it when filling the blaster.)

 

[GeorgiaBII]

I'm ok with painting the boat once it's stripped.... The paint is so thick on it right now I have no idea of the hull condition.

How did you get such a shiny finish?

 

[Steve Dion]

I would start with a high powered pressure washer. A lot of this old paint may give way before you start with any of the stripper treatments.

 

[rgranger]

I've made peel away (home made) before. It is very inexpensive and much of the paint will just come off with a pressure wash.

do a search on here for home made peel away. I've published the recipe on here. For $20 you can make enough to do three stripping cycles. One thing I'd add to the recipe I have on here is to cover the wet paste with some plastic sheeting (the drop cloth for painting etc.)... it keeps the paste wet longer.