v17 build up?

[Rewards]

I have a ten year old Tartan 3500 that has has V17 applied every Spring; areas have peeled away leaving a less then smooth surface. Any suggestions? Is sanding to gel coat my only option, or is there am easier (solvent maybe) way to strip old layers?

DW
Just Rewards

[BigZ]

I haven't tried chemicals, but I don't doubt some would work.
But the stuff does come off very easily with sanding. If you're doing the entire hull use 80 or 100 grit on a DA sander attached to a vacuum. Still wear a respirator, or else you'll be tasting copper for days after. If there aren't too many loose areas a light wet-sanding with 180 or similar grit might also take care of the problem or at least blend in the rough areas.

[Gramp34]

The solvent in VC17 is Isopropyl alcohol (aka rubbing alcohol) and n-propyl alcohol. Since new VC17 will soften hardened brushes and rollers, I expect that rubbing alcohol would dissolve the old VC17 on your hull.

It'd be easy to try, and, who knows? Maybe if you dissolve it and mush it around it'll stick again. No sanding and no need to buy more overpriced bottom paint.

Good luck,

Tim

[Gary M]

VC17 goes on very thin so it should not build up like other bottom paints. I would sand with 80-100 grit by hand or maybe a little with a random orbital until you have taken care of the peeling and get to a very smooth bottom then just repaint with 17 again. Should not be that big a task.

[Rewards]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will let you know results.