Bottom Paint Removal

[Pegleg Sands]

Jeez man,Talk about Murphy,s Law...We owned a couple of marina,s when I was a kid.And my dad and his brother were USN ship Commanders in WW2.A destroyer escort and a sub.Till I was a teenager I thought boats were places you went to work,scrub and polish.I like doing my own work,take pride in it,but for me,there's just some stuff it's just easier to pay a pro and be done with it.We had a 65' CC Connie and a 50' Roamer,You just kinda started at one end and worked your way back.By then it was time to go back and start over.

[Zach]

If you try sanding it, the only sandpaper I've found that lasts a good long while on bottom paint and Gelcoat is Norton's Blue Mag brand. It is sticky backed, and you have to spin it slow enough that the glue doesn't overheat but it eats bottom paint like nobodies business.

It isn't much good on metal or wooden boats, but on fiberglass boats it lasts. You can do a 10 foot by 10 foot square with an 8 inch round stickit disc before it gives up the ghost.

Zach

[AtlanticGreenPro]

This time of year it can be pretty cold up here in the Northeast as in 27º to 35º... heres a nice little 24' Sailboat we did yesterday on Staten Island NY



We blast both wet (Farrow System) and dry (soda blasting)... this boat we did dry because of outside temps.

Happy New Year. :thumbsup:

[Pegleg Sands]

What a beautiful job!!!Do you guys paint too? That looks like a lotta boat for a 24 footer...

[AtlanticGreenPro]

Originally Posted by Pegleg Sands

What a beautiful job!!!Do you guys paint too? That looks like a lotta boat for a 24 footer...

Yes, we can help you with painting.

Happy New Year.

[richard1970]

Use the dustless blasting system with sugar sand. The DB system mixes water in with the sand to keep the dust cloud down, as well as assist in removing the paint so you can see what you are doing. The sugar sand is as soft as the soda blasting, but unlike soda, you don't have to naturalize it or worry about the chemical clean up.

[Pegleg Sands]

Hi,And thanks for the info.The DB system is the way I'm going to go.Done a little research but haven't heard of sugar sand.It's something I'm going to look into asap.I really appreciate the inside info.The enviro issues are a concern here.If I decide to have someone else do it you are going to be hearing from me.You've given me a lot of good insider info.I pulled my gene this past weekend and rebuilt it.All went very smooth.This summer seems to have gotten away from me.She,s all done but the hull.Oiled my teak last week.My mom is in Ft.Lauderdale with end stage alzheimers,but she,s not in any pain and happy as a clam.It's kinda keeping me from getting out uf touch for a long timeAgain,thanks for the info.Sincerely,Pegleg

[richard1970]

Sugar sand is just real fine sand, it almost feels like flour in your hand. Its strong enough to remove paint, but fairly gentle. I know some people use regular sand or crushed glass, those are great on auto frames or steel, etc. but on aluminum or fiberglass, the sugar sand is the way to go. i'd rather it be a little slower, take an hour longer, than to tear up someones boat by trying to use a stronger media or higher pressure.