Had a guy that was going to soda blast bottom paint off boat for me but its been one reason or another why he can come and do it. I had started stripping it but decided to wait for blasting man as I said he is a no show or it could be 3 weeks until he can do it. So my question is can I sand with a 80 grit and rough pant up and just paint over it. A lot of stripping and sanding to get it all off. Any input would be helpful.27 Sailfish Grady White is the boat.
Yes, usually. Just be aware that sanding bottom paints can be toxic as heck. Wear a full respirator. Better to water sand it. All sorts of EPA regulations about sanding it that boat yards have to comply with. Not a good idea to wash it down your driveway either, unless no one is looking.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
80-grit will do the job, but you have to be real careful not to sand right on thru the gel coat. I just sanded some off the keel of my boat and wore a 1/2 face 3m respirator designed for particulates and chemicals plus chemical goggles, even with this on I was worried about my health. There are several chemicals on the market that will remove the paint. They have the same active agent as oven cleaner. The chemicals are pretty toxic as well, but at least you just spray on and hose off. A good pressure washer will remove any paint that is loose and sometimes if the bond is weak you can get under an edge with the pressure washer and knock off the bulk. Never tried using a soda blaster but may try it in the future as I no longer need the bottom paint and would like to remove and repaint with Awlgrip. Good luck and let us know how it comes out. Just be real careful as said before that stuff has some serious health risks associated with it.
Acid wash it then follow with ablative paint.
Scout 185
Red-Devil lye and Corn starch.
Make a paste out of the lye and corn starch, roll it on with a paint roller or brush it on with a paint brush. Cover it with wax paper, the kind your wife has in the kitchen. Let it sit while you go out and do other stuff. Come back a hour or two later and hit it with the pressure washer. May have to make a couple applications but it works.
Notes from experience:
- Get a real pressure washer not one of the $250 ones that Lowes sells.
- Wear protective clothes, that paste burns like fire.
- Take the boat off of the trailer. (its easier than you think)
Phin did a whole thread several years ago where he stripped an old mako. It has lots of useful information. You may want to look it up.
218WA Sailfish
The "Penn"sion Plan