Cleaning Bottom for Paint?

[turkish6]

hey everyone,
We are done sanding the bottom and we were wondering what we should use to clean the bottom. People I have talked to said to wipe it down with a liquid called 216. What do you guys think of this. I was thinking of first washing it with some water and soap? How clean does it need to be to apply the bottom paint?

[sluissa]

soap and water should help, but 216 gets down into all the crevices and pores and gets any oil or other contaminants out. I know it's used for topside paint that's expected to last a long while, but I'm not sure about bottom paint that's destined to be sanded and repainted every couple of years.

[Alan Wheeler]

I assume you are talking about Anti-foul?? After a sand, you need do nothing else but apply the new. Scrapping would have been safer than sanding, but the jobs done so never mind.
If you are talking about putting an underwater primer/undercoat on to a clean sanded hull, then yes you can give a wash with a de-waxer or solvent. Altex have a pre-painting cleaner. Most Paint companies and suppliers will have.

[turkish6]

well we mostly scrapped. sanding was done in only some areas. we are done scrapping but if I rub my hand on the bottom my hand turns black. Don't I need to wash this?

[Alan Wheeler]

Firstly I assume the original was an eroding Anti-foul. Usually the case on displacement hull. As long as you apply the same Ablative type paint again, you only need apply it. The Ablative's will always come off on your hand. Hard paints won't. No further prep is needed. Paint away. Now why can all painting be that easy :-)

[cooper]

In future if you must sand, use wet and dry with lots of water and a pair of dishes gloves. You can use a very coarse grit.