stripper does npt work and sanding will take forever...

[john232]

I have tried to strip the topsides on a 37 foot boat but the strippers I have tried will not cut it and sanding a square foot of paint with takes 15 minutes. The only thing I can think of to do is use a grinder which can cause major problems when I have to fare the topsides for blue Awlgrip. HELP.

[WanderingStar]

I use a heat gun and sharp scraper, but my boats are wood.

[xsboats]

If it is that hard to take off the paint, why does it have to come off?

[degreeoff]

you sure its paint and NOT gelcoat?

[Freshbreeze]

Are you trying to strip the Gelcoat?

If not, keep at it! it took 2 months to sand the Deck, Cockpit, Topsides, Hull, and Keels of a 20 foot bilge keel yacht.

I learnt a lesson about stripper - ensure you throughly wash it off with water after it has done it's job. Another bit of advice for paint stripper - cover it over with clingfilm. It should make it easier!

[FishSticks]

If you connect a vacuum to the sander the job will go much faster, you will use way less paper and you might live longer by keeping the dust off you. And it's much better for the environment. The vac keeps paint from building up and melting into the paper. The Fein vacuum is a great one for this type of project and super useful to have in your shop.

[jarcher]

How much of the deck are you doing? If the entire thing, maybe you want to have it soda blasted?

[xort]

I'll second the question about what it is. Do you know it is paint? Do you know if it's a 2 part paint or a single part paint? What are you painting over it?

IIRC, if you are painting with a 2 part paint you have to have a 2 part paint under it (or gelcoat) if you are painting with a single part paint, you can have a single or a 2 part or gelcoat under it.

[tager]

Scraper, then heavy grit paper to even it out. Soda/sand blasting may be economical.

[jarcher]

Originally Posted by tager

Scraper, then heavy grit paper to even it out. Soda/sand blasting may be economical.

Soda blasting will remove all the paint but leave the gel coat intact. Sand blasting will remove the paint and the gel coat along with it.