Paint Removal

[Good Stuff]

I might buy a project boat and wanted to know how you would remove paint from the hull? Not bottom paint but marine paint.

[Lil' Tunny]

Sandblast it? It's not gelcoat, but some type of polyurethane paint?

[MakoMike]

Easiest thing would be to just paint over it.

[Good Stuff]

But is that the right thing to do? I want the new paint to look like it was the first coat not the 10th.

[Carey Michael]

I just took the bootstripe off of my boat. I'm getting ready to Awlgrip the hull, so I figured it better come off. I used PeelAway. You can find it in Sherwin Williams. You spread an even coat on the surface, then put the paper that is provided on it. Works well. Let me know if you have any questions.

[74Formula233]

Before considering sandblasting, realize it can (and probably will) cause a good amount of "excess removal", or, quite simply, damage, LOL.

A friend of mine was in professional blasting for several years, and travelled around blasting everything from highway bridges to HUGE commercial vessels,to small vessels. He has water-blasted, walnut shell-blasted, soda-blasted, sand-blasted.....

He said the best result on a boat would be achieved by soda blasting, as it is gentle on gelcoat. If you really had some tough spots, you could consider walnut shell-blasting.

Another friend of mine had his bottom sand-blasted, and it removed WAY too much material. He was pretty disappointed, but it was too late. Now, maybe some of the problem could have been the "operator" (not my other buddy, LOL) but really sand is too abrasive and damaging for fiberglass boats.

[thetackletrap]

Soda blasting?...I learn something new every day.

How bout treating it like a car and just sand it off with an airwheel? Just owrk your way to a softer and softer grit paper. Then repaint it after you have the perfect surface desired.

I've not done this with a boat, so It sounds like a really cool project. Keep us posted on progress.

Are you just doing cosmetics, or you stripping her down and doing stringer work, console work, gas tank work, engine work, etc.?

[74Formula233]

Soda Blasting uses baking soda, not Cola, lol

[Squidnation]

I would just give it a good sanding and paint over it

[74Formula233]

Originally Posted by Good Stuff

I might buy a project boat and wanted to know how you would remove paint from the hull? Not bottom paint but marine paint.

By the way, depending on the condition of the paint, you could also restore it.

I restored the hull paint on mine. It was painted circa early 80's, and was dull, washed out, and very orange-peely. I D-A'ed it with 1200-grit 3M D-A paper (took 75 sheets and some time LOL) and then cut it with 3M Cutting Compound, then used wax, then a topcoat of glaze. Now the color is vibrant again, and she is smooth as a mirror!

And I only wax her once or twice a year, and she doesn't oxidize any more.

SO, keep this in mind