Removal of Duradecking - worked for me, and request for advice

[drulon]

I was able to remove much (say 70%) of the duradecking on my boat by using a heat gun and scraper to lift the edges and peel the coating off. It is not fast, but the surface underneath is basically perfect afterward.

The only areas that don't appear to be cooperating are those on the bow where there was thin aluminum sheet, basically insulated with the foam flotation underneath where the duradecking was so baked-on it is crazed and it isn't strong enough to peel. The fact that it had been overpainted with BLACK paint didn't help this, I expect.

I have tried aircraft stripper on these stubborn areas, but it only seems to soften the 2 layers of paint, not the duradecking. I must admit, I didn't leave it on there for a long time, but I'm open to suggestions.

My boat had been drilled up a lot over the years - any good ways to fill in the holes and provide a smooth finish? I tried epoxy, but some has not hardened right, and other areas already cracked.

Thanks!

 

[JoeMan]

Re: Removal of Duradecking - worked for me, and request for advice

The aircraft engine stripper will get it off. Spray it on, leave it doing it's thing. In maybe 10 minutes (before you allow it to dry), hit it again. Do this a few times if needed. In some spots, I let mine soak for maybe 30 - 60 minutes. It all came off. Some areas did require some scraping assistance - I used a sharpened 2 inch steel putty knife. The push end of that thing was pretty sharp.

As far as having a lot of holes...mine did as well. I used bondo-glass in some of them, but the product I really suggest you try is J B Weld. Comes in a 2 tube system, found at your local Ace hardware. That stuff is pretty crazy.

 

[drulon]

Re: Removal of Duradecking - worked for me, and request for advice

Thanks for the stripper instructions and for the JB Weld Suggestion - will try when time allows.