Bottom Paint removal

[oyster77]

Any advice on how to remove "scruffing" bottom paint from my 1983 200 XF would be greatly appreciated.  I think its called scruffing because it wipes off on touch.  Kinda like indian paint rocks.  

I trailer and the paintless look would be nice.

Thank you.

 

[Wilson]

Lots of ways.  Sanding, sand blasting, soda blasting, chemical stripper.  What are you looking to do?  It will never be back to original nice gelcoat.  They had to sand before they applied it and the stuff usually stains gelcoat pretty bad.

[Anonymous]

You can try Marine Peel-Away,you put the paste on the hull cover it with what looks like ty-wrap,leave the thing sit for a day or so come back and with a plastic scraper remove the bottom paint. You can use just plain water when your done and that will take off any product left behind. I used Interlux stripper on my 18' Whaler and it took forever and burned my hand where the gloves didn't cover me...never again. I bought a '89 20' Aquasport that I plan to strip this winter and I'm using the peel away,about $80 for a 5 gal bucket of the stuff at your local marine store.Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys,

The Marine Peel-Away process seems right for me.  Maybe I'll just take the paint off of the sides, stern and bow areas so when I'm in the water it can't be seen.  The paint now sloughs off onto towel when I wipe down sides.  

Happy watering!

[John Jones]

Has anyone heard of a sandblasting attachment for a pressure washer?  Someone told me that was the way to go and that it was not as agressive as straight sandblasting.  So far I can't find one.

[Wilson]

That is how we did ours.  BE CAREFUL.  It can be very agressive, just keep it back a distance and take your time.  If you get too close it will pit the gelcoat too bad. I was a real pain in the ass after that.

[Argo]

If you need some stripper for bottom paint I have 2 gallons of stripper I could sell you at a good price. email me for details as I dont always post here on a daily basis. Jwalence@yahoo.com