Bottom paint removal, is it possible?

[wrvond]

Wellcraft170's thread on bottom paint removal got me wondering:
My boat was marina kept for years and has ablative bottom paint. It's now a trailer boat and will likely remain so as long as I am alive. I thought about removing the bottom paint, but thought it would leave the gel coat rough.
​Can bottom paint actually be removed leaving the original gel coat finish?
If so, how would a person go about removing it?

 

[km1125]

A lot depends on how well it was prepped before they put on the paint, and how porous the gel was which makes is more susceptible to staining. If the boat was prepped properly then the gel was abraded and would have to be wet sanded and polished to get that 'new boat' look (which also reduces gel coat thickness). If the paint has been on a long time then the gel is probably stained and might still need some wet sanding even if it wasn't abraded. Several years ago I took all my bottom paint off because it kept flaking. We took it all off with small chisels - just 'helping' it flake until we had it all cleaned. Silly me didn't prep well enough and years later it started flaking again. Had it soda blasted and it lasted but I think it would be much harder to get a clean surface now.

I've heard others recommend taking the old paint off and repainting with a white hard bottom paint. A lot less work and get almost the same look.

 

[shrew]

The process of preparing the hull for paint should have completely and heavily abraded it. They usually call for 80 - 100 grit sandpaper. Best results are with a machine. I've never seen anyone be able to truly and properly prepare a hull by hand. If that didn't get it, the process of removing the paint certainly will. You could media blast the hull then paint it with an epoxy paint. That would probably require a number of coats, be rolled, tipped and polished. It would be expensive to the point of being cost prohibitive, which is why nobody does that.

You can use a hard paint and sand it smooth if you're after performance. They also make white bottom paints.

 

[wrvond]

If I were to remove the paint, I wouldn't repaint it. I'd want a nice, shiny, smooth gel coat finish. Because I assumed the bottom was abraded I had resigned myself to living with the bottom paint it already has. I'm ok with living with it, but wouldn't mind having a nice shiny smooth bottom (on my boat!).

 

[frantically relaxing]

The only time anyone sees the bottom is when it's on the trailer.

A lot less work and you'll get almost the same results--

Not cheap, but it's a total bargain compared to the job you're describing!

 

[wrvond]

$220.00 per gallon!!!

​:jaw:
​Suddenly I'm very happy I have a 270 rather than a 400!

 

[Scott Danforth]

220/gallon is less than colored gel or imron.

best bang for the buck there - colored AF paint. its what I will be doing to the Rogue since someone painted the bottom in its past.

 

[hemi rt]

We just removed the anti-fouling paint off 2 boats that came from the West coast, one we sanded down with 500 Grit and worked our way to 2000 - it came out smooth and shiny. The other one didn't come out well so we painted the complete hull with color matched Endura (epoxy paint) then wet sanded it and buffed it to a smooth and shiny surface. The owner of the 2 boats was rely pleased with the first one and was apprehensive on doing what we did to the second one but was happy with the results when he saw it.

 

[Clever screen name]

I have seen this in stores never used it.


Peel Away[SUP]?[/SUP] Marine Strip paint remover is specifically designed as an alternative to Peel Away[SUP]?[/SUP] Marine Safety Strip, optimized as a boat bottom paint stripper that provides antifouling paint stripping where the epoxy barrier coat is to be left intact. Peel Away[SUP]?[/SUP] Marine Strip is an alkaline paste and in a single application will strip all antifouling coatings on boats without harsh fumes or flammable solvents. Peel Away[SUP]?[/SUP] Marine Strip is a

safe and environmentally friendly lead-based paint removal system that includes a paste that is troweled or sprayed with a HD airless sprayer over the surface to be stripped.


www.google.com/search?q=Peel+Away?+Marine+Safety+Strip+Paint+Remover+from+Dumond

 

[wrvond]

220/gallon is less than colored gel or imron.

best bang for the buck there - colored AF paint. its what I will be doing to the Rogue since someone painted the bottom in its past.

Kind of a tough call, really. If I could manage to match the dark blue pretty close that might be a really good way to go. On the other hand, I find a smooth shiny gel coat finish quite appealing, and a single application remover sounds pretty good.

 

[Scott Danforth]

we all want a shiny bottom. however if there was any prep work done prior to someone putting on the bottom paint, your looking at no less than 60 -80 hours of wet sanding and buffing that boat of yours to get to a shiny gel surface (that is 350 square feet of bottom surface, and no less than 4 different grits of sand paper) and that is assuming that you dont sand thru the gel trying to get it smooth and shiny. couple that with the 4-6 hours of simply getting the boat off the trailer and onto stands so you can work to wet sand

2 gallons of fresh bottom paint and 8 hours of work (hitting just what can be seen when on the trailer) looks really appealing

 

[wrvond]

Your logic is irrefutable!
I read the ablative paint can be wiped down with paint thinner to extend its service life. Might have to go that way for a bit as I save for a Bravo III outdrive and new water heater.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you can try it. I wiped my bottom paint with both lacquer thinner and acetone trying to remove it... no dice. I will be spraying either paint of gel on the boat for the new color scheme. the bottom on mine will be hit with the DA and sprayed with the bottom paint from Pettit

 

[wrvond]

you can try it. I wiped my bottom paint with both lacquer thinner and acetone trying to remove it... no dice. I will be spraying either paint of gel on the boat for the new color scheme. the bottom on mine will be hit with the DA and sprayed with the bottom paint from Pettit

I'll be looking forward to a tutorial with before and after pictures!