After having been in the water for over four years, the bottom of my H27 1984 looked like a real mess. Numerous layers of anti fauling paint and millions of barnacles. After an initial scraping of the barnacles, those nasty little white rings are still there. Wet sanding has been recommended to me, but I don't know what that is. Is there a special tool connected with a water hose? What kind of sandpaper does it use? WHo sells it? Are there other methods? Any info would be appreciated. Hans
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Bob Rutland
Wet sanding is done with waterproof sandpaper(black sandpaper).As you sand, you keep the paper and the surface wet with a water hose. This process is totaly dust free and the water keeps everything lubricated so the paper last much longer. Hope this helps, Bob S/V Lady Di II
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red coles
Make rings go away
Hello Hans Sounds like you have Barnacle residue on of of a solid layer of bottom paint. If this is the case. save youself some effort and get a pad sander, with 50 grit paper. This will remove those unsightly rings and then you can wet sand if you want. I wouldn't if it were me. 50 grit will give you a good tooth for your new bottom paint. Good luck red
Hello Hans Sounds like you have Barnacle residue on of of a solid layer of bottom paint. If this is the case. save youself some effort and get a pad sander, with 50 grit paper. This will remove those unsightly rings and then you can wet sand if you want. I wouldn't if it were me. 50 grit will give you a good tooth for your new bottom paint. Good luck red
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Kenny Logsdon
Better Yet ....
Sanding in by any method is usually an undesirable task. I have foung the 5 inch orbital/rotating type (or dual action a.k.a D/A) sanders to be the best solution for sanding the boat bottom. These can be easily found at any home store or Sears and usually have a dust collector built in. They use the hook and loop tpye sandpaper and 80 or 60 grit will be the corse-est you will find. These work much better than a pad sander, I speak from experience here. Expect to pay $50 to $60 for a model with ball bearings. Have fun, we have all been there.
Sanding in by any method is usually an undesirable task. I have foung the 5 inch orbital/rotating type (or dual action a.k.a D/A) sanders to be the best solution for sanding the boat bottom. These can be easily found at any home store or Sears and usually have a dust collector built in. They use the hook and loop tpye sandpaper and 80 or 60 grit will be the corse-est you will find. These work much better than a pad sander, I speak from experience here. Expect to pay $50 to $60 for a model with ball bearings. Have fun, we have all been there.
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Colin
consider this!
Bob gave good advice about using a hose but wet and dry sandpaper will last even longer is you introduce soap to the mix. What I try to do is put a little dish soap into a bucket filled with water then dip a spong into this mix and then hold it just above the area to be sanded and squeeze as required. This will use less water, you can warm the water (Ilive in Canada)and as said earlier the sandpaper will stay cleaner and more usable.
Bob gave good advice about using a hose but wet and dry sandpaper will last even longer is you introduce soap to the mix. What I try to do is put a little dish soap into a bucket filled with water then dip a spong into this mix and then hold it just above the area to be sanded and squeeze as required. This will use less water, you can warm the water (Ilive in Canada)and as said earlier the sandpaper will stay cleaner and more usable.
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John
If your working under the water line I wood sandblast the bottom, then redo the bottom paint. I would reserve the wet sanding for above the water line for a good clean surface to polish.
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Ray Bowles
Large grit sandpaper
Hans, I would be careful with the use of large grit sandpaper when sanding below the waterline. I would only use grit large enough to BARELY remove the layers of paint and fouling on the bottom of your boat. You DO NOT want to be removing gel coat and fiberglas. Also remember that the LOWER the number on the sandpaper, the larger and harsher the grit is, and the greater the amount of paint and boat bottom it will remove. Wet sandpaper is paper of extremely fine grit (400 to 600)and will remove hardly any coating on the boat bottom. It is used primarly to remove sanding scratches from the large grit sandpaper. This project you appear to be starting is huge! Read, ask questions, access your skills and equipment, then, repeat this step 3 more times. Now Go For It. Good luck, Ray
Hans, I would be careful with the use of large grit sandpaper when sanding below the waterline. I would only use grit large enough to BARELY remove the layers of paint and fouling on the bottom of your boat. You DO NOT want to be removing gel coat and fiberglas. Also remember that the LOWER the number on the sandpaper, the larger and harsher the grit is, and the greater the amount of paint and boat bottom it will remove. Wet sandpaper is paper of extremely fine grit (400 to 600)and will remove hardly any coating on the boat bottom. It is used primarly to remove sanding scratches from the large grit sandpaper. This project you appear to be starting is huge! Read, ask questions, access your skills and equipment, then, repeat this step 3 more times. Now Go For It. Good luck, Ray
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Steve Cook
Ray hit the nail on the head
Though, I have heard that crushed walnut shells work better that silica sand when sand blasting boat bottoms. As Ray said, wet sanding won't help you. Ask more questions around your boat yard. Have a pro give you a price and ask him how he will do the job. Steve, s/v The Odyssey (H310)
Though, I have heard that crushed walnut shells work better that silica sand when sand blasting boat bottoms. As Ray said, wet sanding won't help you. Ask more questions around your boat yard. Have a pro give you a price and ask him how he will do the job. Steve, s/v The Odyssey (H310)
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