CAN OF PAINT EXPLODED IN COCKPIT

[JPA Cate]

Acetone will not harm fiberglass. If the gelcoat is crazed, it will be the devil's own job to try and remove the spray rustoleum from that! Good luck with it. It can be painted over. It's tricky to match whites, but doable, if you have good vision.

Ann

[Ninedotsix]

Originally Posted by Flatswing

Why not use marine paint & varnish remover-doesn’t hurt FRP. West Marine sells a reasonably priced version -works great. Just paint on with a chip brush, wait for color change, scrape off, hose & done. Just rewax after using.

I second that. It’s similar in chemistry to the citrus strippers. Safeguard it from direct sun, and to help it work, you can cover with plastic film, to slow down evaporation. Use a firm plastic bristle task brush, to work into the non-skid.
Not sure what color Rustoleum you have, or what the base is, but assuming it is an alkyd enamel.
If it’s alkyd enamel, it will burn out from sun exposure and pop off in places, over time.
Stressing the paint film structure with stripper will accelerate the process. I wouldn’t get too aggressive with scraping tools or sanding, unless you plan to paint the gelcoat to get rid of your tool marks.
~ 9.6

[Flatswing]

Originally Posted by Ninedotsix

I second that. It’s similar in chemistry to the citrus strippers. Safeguard it from direct sun, and to help it work, you can cover with plastic film, to slow down evaporation. Use a firm plastic bristle task brush, to work into the non-skid.
Not sure what color Rustoleum you have, or what the base is, but assuming it is an alkyd enamel.
If it’s alkyd enamel, it will burn out from sun exposure and pop off in places, over time.
Stressing the paint film structure with stripper will accelerate the process. I wouldn’t get too aggressive with scraping tools or sanding, unless you plan to paint the gelcoat to get rid of your tool marks.
~ 9.6

Yes-absolutely as above. I should have been clearer in my earlier suggestion. Definitely a soft scraper. I also used a small stiff bristle brush for the non-skid.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Flatswing

Why not use marine paint & varnish remover-doesn’t hurt FRP. West Marine sells a reasonably priced version -works great. Just paint on with a chip brush, wait for color change, scrape off, hose & done. Just rewax after using.

If the same stuff we used several years ago, it's won't hurt the paint either. Maybe if the paint is fresh it might do something.

Painting over is probably one of the better ideas if actual paint stripper doesn't pull it up.

Sandpaper would be a last resort as that will literally grind the gelcoat off.

[EmeraldCoastSailor]

I had a can of Yanmar engine paint blow up inside of a storage compartment. The smell gave it away so I got to it quick. Sorry this happened in your cockpit.

[zengirl]

Originally Posted by ChrisJHC

You could always just rename your boat the “Jackson Pollock”!

Haha....that's exactly what my new companionway hatch cover looks like! The rest of it looks like he was drunk while painting!

[Paul Howard]

A friend stripped his 15ft dinghy of paint with Easy Off Oven Cleaner.
He applied, covered with cling wrap (so it would not dry out to quickly, left for a while, then scraped off.

[Cheechako]

If your boat is not painted, why not Goof Off? That's what most everyone uses to remove grafitti...
Acetone often works, and MEK is great, both a bit more noxious to use....
If your gel coat is old and porous you may never get it all out though...

[captlloyd]

Xylene, available Home Depot and paint stores. Wear rubber gloves.

[Gadagirl]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

Xylene, available Home Depot and paint stores. Wear rubber gloves.

And a respirator. Also contain all rags in a safe container to be desposed of as a toxic contaminate. Because it's highly toxic. My community only allows this to be disposed of 2x a year when they collect highly toxic materials. Use as a last desperate choice. Google it. It wouldn't be my choice.

[Tetepare]

As said, citristrip first, with a brush. May take several coats, but it’s cheap and works wonders.

Then easy off. And a brush. Final choice is acetone. And a brush.

Rust oleum is tough paint. Good luck.

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by Gadagirl

And a respirator. Also contain all rags in a safe container to be desposed of as a toxic contaminate. Because it's highly toxic. My community only allows this to be disposed of 2x a year when they collect highly toxic materials. Use as a last desperate choice. Google it. It wouldn't be my choice.

As the paint spill was in the open, there should be plenty of ventilation.

[zengirl]

Are you ready for this! Friend is sanding with 220 and wetting it. It's not wet and sand. It's straight 220. I am shocked and so is he! I'm trying to upload pics, I don't know why it's not working. I went to manage attachments.

[JPA Cate]

It is looking really nice. The sanding may have opened the tops off the tiny bubbles of gelcoat, but waxing (frequently) should help keeps them cleanable.

Ann

[cadmus]

There is a song about this....
https://youtu.be/mNfTmfv4LZM?t=6

i try to internalize the wise advice.... but I rarely can as it relates to boats.