Dry ice blasting on hulls

[fishfeatures]

A mate of mine is looking at getting his hull blasted by dry ice to clean it up. He says that he has heard bad stories about soda blasting on hull as it may damage the gel coat. has anybody here ever seen or heard or this been done to celan hulls up so that they can be antifouled?

Seemingly the only waste is what is stripped off the hull as the dry ice disintergrates on impact and becomes co2. Also can it be used to clean bilges , decks??
Sounnds too good to be true, and if it does then it usaully is

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Dry ice blasting on hulls

I would be concerned about contact freezing. If there is ANY water in the gel coat such as a blister I would worry it would cause damage. I have not heard of dry ice blasting on a hull......maybe other people have.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Dry ice blasting on hulls

I have heard of and seen video of dry ice blasting, but not being used on boat hulls. Not sure what the issues might be. Apparently the people doing the work have done it before? Do a couple of inconspicious test spots and see how it goes. I wouldn't worry about any contact freezing, the ice doesn't make contact long enough really transfer that much cooling properties. I would think the ambient temp of the air would be more than enougfh to keep it at a normal temp.

If it doesn't work, look into soda blasting and crush walnut shells. Both very popular over here.

EDIT:
It's amazing what a 2 second search on YouTube brings up:

 

[robert graham]

Re: Dry ice blasting on hulls

Video looks like it's working real well...then I guess you finish sand it, prime and anti-fouling paint? Wonder what the pros/cons are compared to the soda and the walnut hulls?

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: Dry ice blasting on hulls

i have checked out videos about the process , i suppose i was more after first hand experience from someone who has witnessed it and the after effects.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Dry ice blasting on hulls

They use that to restore antique books and priceless paintings so I really doubt it would hurt a boat at all, I saw a show and they were doing that to some 600 year old book, looked pretty cool and it didn't hurt the book at all.