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Bottom paint stripper

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Jweikel625
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/24/2013 : 08:00:23

Boat looks to have about four layers of bottom paint and want to consider a bottom paint stripper to cut through the layers. I know soda blasting would be the best way, but that is not in the budget. So the question is who is using the stripper and what brand works the best??

1980 SK/SR
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41307503@N06/,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPDZgkSfCVg

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iwillnotsubmit
1st Mate

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64 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2013 : 08:18:06

"Hello, This past spring I tackled the bottom on Peanut. The bottom paint was in very bad shape, many layers and flaking off in spots. Fin keel was also in bad shape, rust spots and a bit of the Catalina smile. I really did not want to use paint stripper, but after pricing other options, I decided to try a soy based stripper. I read an article from Good Old Boat that recommended Frammers Soy strip. Peanut had been out of the water for over a year, so the bottom was dry. I was surprised that the power washer actually took off much of the thick paint with a 25 degree tip. The remaining paint was easily removed with the soy strip. I liberally applied the stripper with a paint brush and covered it with plastic wrap. I only covered about 1/6 of the bottom at one time. 6-8 hours later I peeled off the plastic and the paint easily scraped off with a plastic scraper. Be sure to put down plastic to catch the mess. After using the soy strip, only a very thin layer of paint was left and was easily removed with 80 grit on an orbital sander. Bottom line is that I was impressed with the soy strip's performance and only used about 1.5 - 2 gallons to do the whole bottom of the boat." This was copied from a previous post of mine, still applies.

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2013 : 08:24:38

I used "Soy Strip" last haul out. Non toxic, not expensive, and does not eat your skin up! However it literally made 15 years of paint come right off! I could not believe how effective it was!

Get a roll of that Saran Wrap plastic like you use when moving and put in over the wet soy strip section you are working on to keep it from drying too fast ( might have to hold it in place with some strips of masking tape. Do not work on too large of an area at a time.

I used a scraper with a replaceable blade and a long handle because it get you away from it falling on you. Wear a paper painter suit since under the boat can get messy. There is NO acid harsh chemical experience, just gooey paint. All that paint just turns to goo! Amazing! Be sure to use drop cloths.

Google for it and they will send you a 4 oz sample.

None of that terrible paint sanding afterwards! You Do have sand the bottom before painting however, but it is trivial compared to sanding off bottom paint!

Chuck

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2013 : 08:25:25

If it really only has 4 coats of antifouling, it might not need to be stripped. After I stripped my bottom, I put 5 coats of barrier paint on it and 3 coats of antifouling on it. Four coats is not much. Generally, you only need to think about stripping the bottom when the old antifouling starts to peel. As long as it's not peeling, you can sand it smooth and paint over the old paint. (I prefer wet sanding.)

If it really needs to be stripped, there are lots of different chemical strippers available, but the main thing you need to know is that the stuff you get in the hardware stores is unsuitable, because it will damage your gelcoat. There are products made specifically for fiberglass boats. (Don't be fooled by the fact that the can has a picture of a boat on it.) One good stripper is Klean-Strip for Fiberglass. The key to all strippers is to keep them from drying too quickly.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 11/24/2013 08:35:52

Jweikel625
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2013 : 11:58:09

Thanks all, I will look into the Soy product. Steve it may have more coats, I was being conservative. There is chipping and flaking going on in multiple spots. I really what to get it down to Gel coat, and get a fresh start on the boat!

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2013 : 12:16:45

I've been warned by several people who know, that most strippers work poorly in temperatures under something like 50 deg., and exponentially better as the temperature increases above that. I was even warned not to start too early in the day, when the hull might be closer to night-time temperature. These warnings were not specific to Soy Strip, so go by their instructions... but if they include such a statement, apparently it's real.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2013 : 14:16:41

Peel Away Marine Safety Strip and Soy Strip were were the best products in P/S tests

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2013 : 05:45:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 I've been warned by several people who know, that most strippers work poorly in temperatures under something like 50 deg., and exponentially better as the temperature increases above that. I was even warned not to start too early in the day, when the hull might be closer to night-time temperature. These warnings were not specific to Soy Strip, so go by their instructions... but if they include such a statement, apparently it's real.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Listen to Dave (Stinkpotter)... the temperature is IMPERATIVE! MOST chemical strippers will not work well below say 50degrees F. Also another thing to note is at higher temps the strippers evaporate faster than they can strip... so sometimes you need somethign to hold the stripper to the hull.

I found scraping to be more effective, than stripping... but I had 8-10 layers of ablative on my boat's bottom.

Take note also that if you are changing bottom paint types, stripping should bring you all the way to barrier coat... if you do, sand, and apply another layer of barrier coat... they want 5 mil thickness which depending on how heavy you paint/roll is about 4 coats.

Sand the barrier lightly to provide an edge to your bottom paint, and go to town!

Edited by - shnool on 11/25/2013 11:55:04

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2013 : 05:51:24

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 Listen to Rick (Stinkpotter)...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...or whoever he is...

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