Removing and Reapplying Bottom Paint...

[MarshMarlowe196]

Hey guys, I'm currently about halfway done with the superfun job of removing the old green bottom paint from my 19-6.  I was browsing around on THT (traiterous, I know...), and there were a few folks saying they used a paint stripper that worked well removing the bottom paint.

I've never done this before, and I was under the impression that it would be as easy as removing the paint and just repainting with new paint, but it turns out I need to apply some kind of base coat prior to applying new bottom paint.

Has anyone here repainted their hulls with bottom paint?  Used any stripper?  If so, how did it work?  What kind of base coat do I need to use before repainting?

I will post some (quality non-cell-phone) pics of the job soon.  Thanks for any help.

[RickK]

Do yourself a favor and have someone else do it - sodablast or sandblast.  If you have the option of rolling your boat over and can attack it yourself, go for it, otherwise it is a pain, especially if it's on a trailer.  I tried the PeelAway stripper and it kinda worked - see bottom of pg 12 and 13,14 - I finally gave up and had it sand blasted - guy did a great job and it looked nice afterwards.  I use house paint on my 170 and it works great.
Would be best to take it back to gelcoat if it lives on a trailer - you can spray that on and work it until it's like new.  Some else will pipe in on that.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Thanks for the input Rick

But, I already have the boat off the trailer and on some blocks.  The reason I was wondering about the stripper was because I thought it might make it easier to get the paint off.  I've actually removed all the bottom paint on the starboard side of the hull (from the keel to the outside chime, bow to stern) with a DA.  Took me about 4 hours, but it wasn't so bad.

Another thing-  I already have the bottom paint, and I like the idea of having bottom paint on the hull instead of Gelcoat, because bottom paint goes on thick so the prepwork doesn't need to be perfect and it rubs off a little easier than gelcoat, giving it a little more protection from things like running aground.  Also, if I was ever in a situation where I needed to dock the boat for any length of time, knowing I have bottom paint will ease my mind.  I kinda have this thing with doing it myself too  :) There are some spots on the keel toward the bow that look like they were patched haphazardly, and I'd like to fix that too.  I figure paying someone to do all this would be a little high, and I'm too jewish to pay someone to do what I can do myself.

[RickK]

But, I already have the boat off the trailer and on some blocks.  The reason I was wondering about the stripper was because I thought it might make it easier to get the paint off.  I've actually removed all the bottom paint on the starboard side of the hull (from the keel to the outside chime, bow to stern) with a DA.  Took me about 4 hours, but it wasn't so bad.

The paint on my boat, even with the Peelaway, was brutal to get off - NOTHING like they show in the ads. And being on the trailer meant I wasn't going to get it all off anyway.  The guys that are set up to do this kind of work can hoist the boat off the trailer and set it on stands that allow good access to the bottom.
Bottom paint robs you of top end and is less fuel efficient than a nice slick bottom.  Plus if it is the ablative type (recommended), you have to keep doing it every few years, even if it lives on a trailer.  I see the paint washing off of mine every time I wash her down after taking her out.

[love2fish]

Badon:     I'm sorry,,, did you say your "too Jewish"?

[jupitermike1]

If you want blister protection apply barrier coat 2part epoxy after bottom paint is gone this is probably the primer you mentioned, pettit makes one as well as other manufactuers. hope this helps

[MarshMarlowe196]

The paint on my boat, even with the Peelaway, was brutal to get off - NOTHING like they show in the ads. And being on the trailer meant I wasn't going to get it all off anyway. The guys that are set up to do this kind of work can hoist the boat off the trailer and set it on stands that allow good access to the bottom.
Bottom paint robs you of top end and is less fuel efficient than a nice slick bottom. Plus if it is the ablative type (recommended), you have to keep doing it every few years, even if it lives on a trailer. I see the paint washing off of mine every time I wash her down after taking her out.

Interesting... I wonder why mine is easier to get off?  I have to say, it is more difficult sanding it off toward the stern of the boat, but it's more or less coming right off.  What is the ablative type?  The kind I bought was through a buddy of mine that works at boaters world.  All I know is that it's black bottom paint with copper added to it (I'm guessing to discourage growth of marinelife and what-not).  I see your point about the robbing of top end, but to be fair, this is a slow boat.  After getting a real good look at the bottom, I can see why:  This boat really could use at least one planing chime that runs the length of the hull, because as it is now, I would say the slowness has more to do with the amount of the hull that makes contact with the water while it's on plane.  I doubt seriously there's much I could do to make this boat any slower.  My understanding is that once you get a smooth coat of bottom paint on the boat the first time (the coat on there now is really chunky), all you would have to do is some light prepwork to reapply the bottom paint a few years down the road.  Correct me if I'm wrong please.

If you want blister protection apply barrier coat 2part epoxy after bottom paint is gone this is probably the primer you mentioned, pettit makes one as well as other manufactuers. hope this helps

Would this just be a  primer of sorts for the bottom paint?  Or would this take the place of bottom paint?

Badon: I'm sorry,,, did you say your "too Jewish"?

Yes.  My dad always taught me that you can only spend a dollar once.  I come from a long line of Jewishness.  
No Offense...

[jupitermike1]

this is high build primer, and a barrier to blisters in glass on bottom. this is a extra step but it is the right thing to do in the long run.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Thanks Jupiter, that's what I needed to know.  I will definitely look into that.

[RickK]

Interesting... I wonder why mine is easier to get off?  I have to say, it is more difficult sanding it off toward the stern of the boat, but it's more or less coming right off.  What is the ablative type?  The kind I bought was through a buddy of mine that works at boaters world.  All I know is that it's black bottom paint with copper added to it (I'm guessing to discourage growth of marinelife and what-not).

Ablative means that it will wash off slowly as you use the boat, taking any growth with it.

Badon: I'm sorry,,, did you say your "too Jewish"?

Yes.  My dad always taught me that you can only spend a dollar once.  I come from a long line of Jewishness.  
No Offense...

We probably want to drop this before it blows up into something it probably wasn't intended to be. We don't need to bring anything about ethnics, religion or any other offensive slant to any of our posts please.  Best approach is, if you're not sure if it is offensive or not, don't type it.

[MarshMarlowe196]

My apologies.  I meant nothing but positive things in my questionable references.
 

[No Class]

Last spring I had both my 1985 SeaRay 390 & my 1968 Aquasport 22-2 flatback bead blasted. The guys did a great job tenting & collecting the media post blast. The bottom of the SR was left absolutely clean with only the "no sand" primer remaining. When the guy emerged from the tent around the Aq shaking his head I was concerned. I asked him what the problem was & his response was "lotta voids".The beads took away most of the ancient gel coat leaving the bottom looking like a window screen. Fortunately, I had planned to barrier coat both bottoms using Interlux InterProtect. The first coat filled about 50% of the voids, the second about 95% & by the fifth the bottom looked like fresh gray gel coat. The process certainly wasn't cheap, but, both boats have never been better.The SR picked up a few MPH & the Aq no longer absorbs water through the tiny stress cracks. Two coats of "hard" bottom paint after 5 barrier coats & all future coats will be "ablative" bottom paint to avoid a buildup. Labor intensive, but, well worth it!

[MarshMarlowe196]

So the bead-blasting took it down past the gelcoat to the woven glass?  I actually just finished getting all the old bottom paint off of my AS this past sunday using just the DA, and it looks like all the gelcoat is still there.

How much Interprotect (gallons) did you need for the hull?  How much $$ per gallon? I know you'd have more surface area to coat on a 22-2 hull.

If your gelcoat was still intact after the blasting, do you think you'd still need to use so many coats of the interprotect?

[kaptainkoz]

I did it the hard way... but I really got to see what the bottom looked like and got to make any repairs to the gelcoat that i deemed necessary. I had the boat blocked, then after trying various methods I ended up with a hardened steel, 2" wood chisel! Keep in mind I do not know the history of the boat, and it must have had between 4 to 7 coats of bottom paint. The bottompaint looked like a topo map! I pressure washed it first, then put on a double canister filter mask ( you DO NOT want to injest/breathe in that old stuff), goggles and long clothing. It took me about 6 hours of hard scrubbing, 2 inches at a time for a 20 foot hull. It sucked! Then when done with the chisel i finished it up with a palm sander to smooth it out. Whatever part of me was exposed turned smurf blue. The chisel lasted about 30 minutes before I had to resharpen it on a disc sander. I was careful to slightly round the edges of the chisel so it wouldnt gouge the gelcoat. I dont know if soda/sand blasting would have done the same or better, but being a compulsive stubborn ass I wanted it done yesterday so I got to it and did it the hard way. I trailer my boat so I only painted the edges that may be seen when the boat is bobbing in the water. The bottom now looks "marbleized". I do not plan on bottom painting it as long as I am trailering it. I do not have any plans to dock her in 2009.

[RickK]

Bottom paint sucks- sometimes a necessary evil, but it still sucks.
I used a real stiff putty knife and it was like concrete even after a week of PeelAway.