Stripping the bottom paint

[KIVALO]

Originally Posted by tommays

For the most part a rigid razorblade holder from and auto parts store will make pretty fast work of bottom paint it is a very easy clean up

A 100 pack of blades is less than 10 dollars as they go dull pretty fast BUT as you refine your style it gets pretty easy to remove a lot of old paint

I am likely to have to redo my bottom in the next year, would you mind expanding on this method? Do you use this like you would for removing the reg sticker from your car? Cant be that way can it? I would think you dig into the gel-coat or worse yet the fiberglass?

Regards,
Brad

s/v KIVALO

[tommays]

A 3" carbide PULL scraper turned out the best and even that took 8 spare blades as once they go somewhat dull it really slows down

Home Depot sells there Husky brand and the blades BUT it is only in the store NOT on there web sight

The razor blade was a PUSH tool and dulled pretty easy on bottom paint

Like everything else it took time to find the best angle of attack that took paint and not boat

BUT the barrier coat is MUCH harder than bottom paint

[Gary M]

A scraper like Tommy,s works pretty well but you will get some gouges. You will need a powerful orbital sander and 60 and 80 grit to get a smooth job. You will take off some gel coat so I would recommend putting on the recommended coats of a good barrier epoxy.
I would allow lots of time, took me about 4 weeks to do a 30 footer with about 20 years of bottom paint on it. I found I could only work at it about 2 hours at a time.

Have fun

[eherlihy]

Originally Posted by tommays

On a boat that had more things bad than i could count



...
After a full season of soaking the bottom paint is still happy

THAT is amazing!!! Nice job!

How did you paint the topsides?

[jillmstar]

Just wondering how you got your sailboat in your driveway like that on the blocks?
Blessings
Jill

[tommays]

Gotta have faith in the boat mover and your bow stand





Zzzoom is REALLY nerve wracking

[floridajaxsailor]

very impressive work amigo
I am wondering the content of the 'soy based' products
I will be working on a 22 footer next week that just has fresh water alge stains and so forth
any ideas are greatly appreciated
-JD

[castaway]

Tommays, great job on the boat. I need to paint mine and need some advise. How long did the job take you, how did you get the boat off the trailer, where did you get the jack stands from, what kind of paint do you recommend and how did you apply it roller or spray it?

[Squidd]

And how much to come over and do mine...?

[tommays]

At some point in time the PO did a really good barrier coat job which i saw no point in damaging as the boat has never had blister issues (knock on wood )

SO i used a carbide PULL scraper to get off the 15 some odd layers and it TOOK a long time perhaps 5 FULL days

BUT your in a time VS money deal and saving time would have cost 2K and removed perfect barrier coat

I scraped to barrier coat and did a fast 80 grit scuff and then did MORE barrier coat and followed up with micron extra in the recommended time frame WHICH is pretty much instantly

The topsides and bottom paint TOOK the most hours in a two year refit BUT if i had and indoor work area it would have taken MUCH less time and if i had HEAT even LESS time