Anyone know how toxic anti-fouling paint is to humans? Can anyone suggest the best, safest and most effective way of removing several coats of this paint to the original hull? All responses greatly appreciated. Thanks, M.C.
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Ed Garcia
Yes, indeed it is
Yes, most antifouling are toxic to life in general. I just did a 1978 Oday 25, it had at least seven coats of antifouling on the bottom. I tried the chemical stuff, too slow, an incredible mess and had to hose the entire area down to get rid of it. Then I tried a power hand sander, little more success, but too labor intensive. Getting highly frustrated I finally when to Sears, bought their $ 50 sand blaster and used that. Worked like a champ and was FAST. But don't use sand, use glass beads or other softer media. I highly recommend adequate breathing protection, 3M tight fitting dust respirators and tyvek suit to keep material off you. If you decide to sand blast look for supplied air respirator, they are a lot better. Bathe immediately when you done to get the stuff off you. Good Luck.
Yes, most antifouling are toxic to life in general. I just did a 1978 Oday 25, it had at least seven coats of antifouling on the bottom. I tried the chemical stuff, too slow, an incredible mess and had to hose the entire area down to get rid of it. Then I tried a power hand sander, little more success, but too labor intensive. Getting highly frustrated I finally when to Sears, bought their $ 50 sand blaster and used that. Worked like a champ and was FAST. But don't use sand, use glass beads or other softer media. I highly recommend adequate breathing protection, 3M tight fitting dust respirators and tyvek suit to keep material off you. If you decide to sand blast look for supplied air respirator, they are a lot better. Bathe immediately when you done to get the stuff off you. Good Luck.
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John K Kudera
Hey Mark,
Regardless what you use to remove the paint, be sure you tell the marina owner what you are doing, they don't like surprises. Peel Away does work well, needs warmer temps, and the seams in the paper need to be taped with 2 inch tape to keep air off the product. spread the peel away with a wallpaper paste type brush, needs to be thicky applied, scrape the loose paint off the hull with a 4 inch wide putty knife.Wipe residue off the hull with paper towels before it drys, wash with water and a nylon scrubber.
Regardless what you use to remove the paint, be sure you tell the marina owner what you are doing, they don't like surprises. Peel Away does work well, needs warmer temps, and the seams in the paper need to be taped with 2 inch tape to keep air off the product. spread the peel away with a wallpaper paste type brush, needs to be thicky applied, scrape the loose paint off the hull with a 4 inch wide putty knife.Wipe residue off the hull with paper towels before it drys, wash with water and a nylon scrubber.
Yup....
Not only is the paint toxic on the boat, its toxic in the can. And its not just the hard components of the coating that are toxic. The paint is thinned with some pretty hot solvents that will knock you on your butt before you know what hit you. So whenever you mess around with anti-fouling paint, make sure you read the label and precautions VERY CAREFULLY before you pop the top of the can. I made the mistake of opening a can of Micron CSC and starting to paint the bottom of my boat last fall. Only a couple of roller swatches before I remembered the respirator was enough to get to me. My other suggestion is to NOT do a bottom by yourself. Get a friend, spouse, guy in the slip next to you, or somebody to help. It will make the job go faster and you can keep an eye on each other.
Not only is the paint toxic on the boat, its toxic in the can. And its not just the hard components of the coating that are toxic. The paint is thinned with some pretty hot solvents that will knock you on your butt before you know what hit you. So whenever you mess around with anti-fouling paint, make sure you read the label and precautions VERY CAREFULLY before you pop the top of the can. I made the mistake of opening a can of Micron CSC and starting to paint the bottom of my boat last fall. Only a couple of roller swatches before I remembered the respirator was enough to get to me. My other suggestion is to NOT do a bottom by yourself. Get a friend, spouse, guy in the slip next to you, or somebody to help. It will make the job go faster and you can keep an eye on each other.
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mike
ed, how long did it take
ed, i see that sand blaster from sears, looks interesting, how long did it take you, how big is your boat thanks, mike
ed, i see that sand blaster from sears, looks interesting, how long did it take you, how big is your boat thanks, mike
One more thing to consider...
is disposing of the old paint once you get it off the boat. Don't know what the laws are where you live, but I'd check into what needs to be done with the waste so you don't get in trouble if the state EPA or whoever regulates that sort of thing where you live. As to sandblasting, I've heard that the preferred blast media is baking soda, as it is tough enough to remove the paint but won't harm the gelcoat, as other media like sand or walnut shells will. And, like Ed mentioned before, make sure you have and use full protection, from eyes, ears, respiration, a Tyvek monkey suit, gloves, etc. Sandblasting off a toxic substance could have serious health implications if you don't take care of yourself, so be careful!
is disposing of the old paint once you get it off the boat. Don't know what the laws are where you live, but I'd check into what needs to be done with the waste so you don't get in trouble if the state EPA or whoever regulates that sort of thing where you live. As to sandblasting, I've heard that the preferred blast media is baking soda, as it is tough enough to remove the paint but won't harm the gelcoat, as other media like sand or walnut shells will. And, like Ed mentioned before, make sure you have and use full protection, from eyes, ears, respiration, a Tyvek monkey suit, gloves, etc. Sandblasting off a toxic substance could have serious health implications if you don't take care of yourself, so be careful!
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scott
Mark, I used generic paint stripper
on a 37 ft hull down to gell coat after trying orbital sander for a few hours. I was in a yard that required the hull be "tented" if power sanding or shop vac hooked up to sander. No blasting allowed. I was deaf w/ear protection and my hands wee numb after the first day of sanding and making little progress. I priced the Peel Away and then tried the cheap hardware store stripper, with a tarp down to catch the sludge. Worked great. Brush stripper on a 3' x3' area wait 20 minutes, brush on another area and start scraping the first area. I got a scrapper that I could screw a short handle into the end of so I could use both arms and ground down the sharp corners of the scraper. I used acetone on a rag to wide off residue of stripper to stop it "eating" into gell coat. Advantage of stipping is that it is quiet and you can listen to music/ audio books while spending countless hours at this mindless task. Scott Wilson
on a 37 ft hull down to gell coat after trying orbital sander for a few hours. I was in a yard that required the hull be "tented" if power sanding or shop vac hooked up to sander. No blasting allowed. I was deaf w/ear protection and my hands wee numb after the first day of sanding and making little progress. I priced the Peel Away and then tried the cheap hardware store stripper, with a tarp down to catch the sludge. Worked great. Brush stripper on a 3' x3' area wait 20 minutes, brush on another area and start scraping the first area. I got a scrapper that I could screw a short handle into the end of so I could use both arms and ground down the sharp corners of the scraper. I used acetone on a rag to wide off residue of stripper to stop it "eating" into gell coat. Advantage of stipping is that it is quiet and you can listen to music/ audio books while spending countless hours at this mindless task. Scott Wilson
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Mark Crociati
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scott
Mark, I had 5 dime sized areas
where the gell coat came off down to glass fibers. I just patched with filler containing vinylester(sp)and painted on barrier coat of interlux interprotect 2000 on the small spots. I havene't had the hull out since then, so can't report further. For the most part the stripper required two coats - paint on stripper then scape, then stipper and scape again. If I ever had to take off bottom paint again I would go the same route. I finished with an albative bottom paint to avoid the future build up. Scott
where the gell coat came off down to glass fibers. I just patched with filler containing vinylester(sp)and painted on barrier coat of interlux interprotect 2000 on the small spots. I havene't had the hull out since then, so can't report further. For the most part the stripper required two coats - paint on stripper then scape, then stipper and scape again. If I ever had to take off bottom paint again I would go the same route. I finished with an albative bottom paint to avoid the future build up. Scott
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Gerry, Newbury MA.
Toxic bottompaint
Scott, Just curious why you only barrier coated the 5 dime size areas and not the whole bottom since you took the time to strip it all down. At least that's how your post came across to me when I read it. Gerry
Scott, Just curious why you only barrier coated the 5 dime size areas and not the whole bottom since you took the time to strip it all down. At least that's how your post came across to me when I read it. Gerry
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scott
Gerry you are right
I stripped to gel coat but did not barrier coat. There were no signs of blisters or prior repair on the 18 year old hull. Any gell coat damage was caused by me. The reason I didn't barrier coat was I was beat, tired, and plain worn out. The yard put a moisture meter on the hull and said it was dry enough to barrier, but I just put on albative anti-fouling and called it done. The albative is "soft" and I think I can take in down to gell coat in a double of days if I want/need to apply barrier. As an aside, I think a barrier coat is a great selling feature for a boat, and plan to do it sometime. Scott
I stripped to gel coat but did not barrier coat. There were no signs of blisters or prior repair on the 18 year old hull. Any gell coat damage was caused by me. The reason I didn't barrier coat was I was beat, tired, and plain worn out. The yard put a moisture meter on the hull and said it was dry enough to barrier, but I just put on albative anti-fouling and called it done. The albative is "soft" and I think I can take in down to gell coat in a double of days if I want/need to apply barrier. As an aside, I think a barrier coat is a great selling feature for a boat, and plan to do it sometime. Scott
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