Bottom Paint Removal Question

[DYLBOSS]

2 part question here and background:

So, I've just spent the past 3 days trying to get the 12 year old unmaintained and chipped bottom paint off of my boat that I just bought last August. I have to say, I'm about all out of elbow grease, and I don't wish this project on my worst enemy.

I've used both Interstrip and Ready Strip, then pressure washed/scrapped it off, which worked ok. This didn't take all the paint off, and left some remnants behind, as well as the epoxy layer. My goal is to get everything off and back down to the original surface and leave it as is. I trailer the boat and never leave it in a slip.

I just spoke with a local boat shop that said it isn't safe to do this and that eventually the hull will start to deteriorate, because there isn't anymore gel coat on the hull, due to the surface prep used when it was originally painted. He suggested that I repaint the bottom or re-gel coat the bottom (which sounds way out of budget for the latter).

Does this make sense? Also, I really would rather not have any bottom paint, but if I must I was hoping to paint it with white paint. Has anyone seen this color bottom paint?

Thanks.

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that fiberglass boats (when first bottom painted) are usually 1) sanded down 2) barrier coated 3) bottom painted. Then you add more bottom paint annually until it builds up too much and needs to be soda or bead-blasted. This is a toxic activity and is ususally NOT for a DIY project as you need to be safe and also collect the material carefully. Once blasted, you start over again.... but you NEVER get back to a factory clean hull.

Now, as for your situation, I have no experience here either... but it's my guess that you have already contaminated your work area and possibly compromised your own health, and maybe that of your hull (until you finish the job and then put on a barrier coat).

If it were me, I'd discuss with my boat guy (and also get advice here, as you're doing). You'll probably end up with some agreeable solution... like having him blast the hull, and then you apply a white barrier coat. It will never, however, look like a factory hull that was never painted.

Just my possibly worthless $.02. Good luck !

 

[DYLBOSS]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that fiberglass boats (when first bottom painted) are usually 1) sanded down 2) barrier coated 3) bottom painted. Then you add more bottom paint annually until it builds up too much and needs to be soda or bead-blasted. This is a toxic activity and is ususally NOT for a DIY project as you need to be safe and also collect the material carefully. Once blasted, you start over again.... but you NEVER get back to a factory clean hull.

Now, as for your situation, I have no experience here either... but it's my guess that you have already contaminated your work area and possibly compromised your own health, and maybe that of your hull (until you finish the job and then put on a barrier coat).

If it were me, I'd discuss with my boat guy (and also get advice here, as you're doing). You'll probably end up with some agreeable solution... like having him blast the hull, and then you apply a white barrier coat. It will never, however, look like a factory hull that was never painted.

Just my possibly worthless $.02. Good luck !

Thanks for the $.02. I don't think I've contaminated my work area or health. All was done outdoors and with gloves and safe for environment (except Interstrip) products, and I haven't gotten down below the epoxy coat.

I have the sense that you are probably right about it never getting back to the original surface, but I guess I'll tally up the responses to make an informed decision about what to do. I'm hoping to avoid the $500 price tag to have them sand and repaint the entire thing. Does bottom paint really have to be applied annually if I'm not slipping the boat?

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

Paint is only required if you're in a wet slip, but once the gel coat is sanded and barrier coated, you need to maintain a non-permeable surface on the hull. You'll need to get it down to a surface that can be re-barrier coated and then barrier coat at minimum. Won't need bottom paint after that, however.

For all the work involved I think $500 is pretty cheap.

 

[HighLineCBR]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

Removing your bottom paint will in fact make your hull unsuitable for the water. After removing the bottom paint completely you will at the very least need to seal it up. Use an orbital sander with 5" disks (100 grit) to get the paint off completely, it works very well. Make sure to wear a good respirator (not the one time use ones)

After youre done. Reseal your bottom with Interlux InterProtect 2000e kit. Its a 2 part epoxy paint/sealer. You will have to roll on about 4-5 coats of this stuff. But you will be happy with the outcome. The InterProtect comes in white or gray and will make your boat look good and functional on the water.

By removing the bottom paint, scraping and sanding, you have removed and exposed bare gel coat (and in some cases maybe even bare fiberglass). If you dont seal it up you will have water absorbtion. It will ruin your boat very quickly.

good luck

 

[DYLBOSS]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

Paint is only required if you're in a wet slip, but once the gel coat is sanded and barrier coated, you need to maintain a non-permeable surface on the hull. You'll need to get it down to a surface that can be re-barrier coated and then barrier coat at minimum. Won't need bottom paint after that, however.

For all the work involved I think $500 is pretty cheap.

Oh, interesting. So all I need to apply is the barrier coat, which I believe I can get in white? This would be the way to go if that is the case. Like I said, I'm not planning to keep the boat in the water.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

The real answer is that it depends on how the hull was prepped before the original bottom paint was applied. A whole bunch of marinas and private owners simply apply the bottom paint to the hull w/o sanding or priming. Some just prime. A lot of new boat hulls have a vinylester resin which is waterproof, but shouldn't be sanded or it voids the hull warantee. These are just painted, and you can usually see large chunks of paint falling off.


You have no way to know what was done to your boat. In addition, what damage did you do to the gel coat, while stripping the bottom paint? I recommend you either sand the bottom paint smooth and then paint over with some hard bottom paint that you like (Shark White is available, and is some Vivid colors from Pettit), or strip it to bare FG, and then apply a barrior coat. The barrior coats are usually not high gloss, but you could cover it with some marine paint for appearance.

 

[DYLBOSS]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

The real answer is that it depends on how the hull was prepped before the original bottom paint was applied. A whole bunch of marinas and private owners simply apply the bottom paint to the hull w/o sanding or priming. Some just prime. A lot of new boat hulls have a vinylester resin which is waterproof, but shouldn't be sanded or it voids the hull warantee. These are just painted, and you can usually see large chunks of paint falling off.


You have no way to know what was done to your boat. In addition, what damage did you do to the gel coat, while stripping the bottom paint? I recommend you either sand the bottom paint smooth and then paint over with some hard bottom paint that you like (Shark White is available, and is some Vivid colors from Pettit), or strip it to bare FG, and then apply a barrior coat. The barrior coats are usually not high gloss, but you could cover it with some marine paint for appearance.

Thanks. I called Interlux before and asked them for some suggestions as well. They suggested that I sand down what's left on the hull, apply a barrier coat (Interprotect), then use a product called VC Performance Epoxy, which will give it a good gloss and will be bright white. Won't serve as an anti-foul paint, but that's not what I want anyway.

I think I'm going to hire this out, at least the sanding and barrier coat part. I've been trying to do this while the boat is on my trailer, and it is just about enough to make you want to scream.

 

[Jakebob]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

.

For all the work involved I think $500 is pretty cheap.

Yep. I'd pay the $500 and forget about it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

your post should be a sticky here. Lots of people ask about wanting to remove old bottom paint. Lots of responders say it isn't worth it. You have shown this to be true--all for cosmetics. The most I recommend is painting over it.

Three days of toxic scut work that could have been spent boating, or doing more fun projects. How much is your time worth, per hour?
$500+ to finish it. (have you priced boat paint?)
Possible damage to hull and certainly, you have created a need for hull protection ("If it ain't broke, fix it until it is")
How many more days for the boat not to be available for boating, while it is sanded, primed, and painted--including drying time? And if it's a good marina, you should have a wait before they get to you.
Add the PITA factor of working under a trailer!
Not being hard on you; good for you for tackling a big job. But now that you asked for advice, and got some answers that are not all good news, hopefully others will learn.

 

[arks]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

Thanks. I called Interlux before and asked them for some suggestions as well. They suggested that I sand down what's left on the hull, apply a barrier coat (Interprotect), then use a product called VC Performance Epoxy, which will give it a good gloss and will be bright white. Won't serve as an anti-foul paint, but that's not what I want anyway.

I think I'm going to hire this out, at least the sanding and barrier coat part. I've been trying to do this while the boat is on my trailer, and it is just about enough to make you want to scream.

Yeah, sanding is one of those really NASTY jobs. I stripped my 34 footer last spring and I'll NEVER do that again!
You got good info from Interlux. I used Interprotect 2000E and to be honest, it wasn't all that difficult to apply. They recommend a minimum 10 mil thickness, which equates to 3 coats. Because the barrier coat is a hard epoxy, for best adhesion each coat must be applied before the previous one sets (usually within 24 hours). After mixing, the working time is pretty short- only about 1 hour. I found the smoothest application was with a small foam roller, but know that they don't hold up very long, so have a good supply on hand.

Some suggestions-
- If I were you, let them do only the prep work. You can handle the painting.
- take the boat off the trailer and block it. The trailer will thank you.
- before starting the barrier coat, fill any damage or nicks in the gelcoat. Smooth is good.
- try to schedule the painting (esp. the barrier coat) during a good-weather window. Duh.
- don't mix up any more than you need for 1 coat. That stuff is too expensive to waste!
- When finished with the VC topcoat, lay on a nice bootstripe. It'll class up the boat and hide the paint edge. You can do vinyl or paint for a bootstripe.

What ever you do, good luck.

Here's a couple shots of my hull, during the strip and after completion. Notice the double bootstripe- I painted mine with Pettit Easypoxy.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

May i suggest you put your boat on solid blocks and not cinderblock? They can collapse.

Good looking paint job.

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

Those blocks are fine... as long as they're oriented properly (which they are).

 

[arks]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

I was initially concerned too, but the marina did the hauling and blocking, so it was 100% their risk. I liked the fact that there were 8 contact points- other marinas have blocked my 12,000 pound boat with as few as 3! I made them add more.....
As far as that marina, at any given time they have 50-60 big boats blocked like that. They're a well-regarded marina and have been doing business for over 50 years.
One of their on-site services is a fiberglass repair business. The day before launch, their shop foreman took the time to come over and compliment me on the nice work. It made it worth the effort- almost!

 

[DYLBOSS]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

Arks, thanks for the great advice and good pics. What do you mean by bootstripe?

So after talking with a bunch of boat folks in the area, and also looking at the price tag on this project ( looking like it will be closer to $1000 for sure if I hire it out) I'm going to muscle through this. I'm a die hard DIYer, and also cheap when it comes to something I think I can do myself.

However, I'm a little nervous and uncertain about taking it off the trailer. That sounds daunting. I get the idea of the blocks in the back, but how do I handle the bow and actually removing the trailer? My boat is only about 3000 lbs., so I'm guessing it won't be as big of a deal as a 12,000 lb rig.

 

[arks]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

Bootstripe is the stripe at the waterline. In a lot of areas the water can leave a stain at the waterline- even for trailered boats. A bootstripe is used to hide or minimize the uglyness.
Here's a shot of my old boat (trailered). The bootstripe I used was 3" wide black vinyl.

Trailer removal isn't a big deal. You've gotta have solid ground (gravel, concrete, or plywood). Start with the front of the trailer tongue as low as possible, then block the rear corners of the boat. Lift the tongue until the weight is off the rear of the trailer. Pull the trailer forward slowly, and put another block just behind the axle. Continue moving forward and add another block when the rear crossmember reaches the front block. After the trailer is clear, add a couple more side blocks midway.

 

[DYLBOSS]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

Bootstripe is the stripe at the waterline. In a lot of areas the water can leave a stain at the waterline- even for trailered boats. A bootstripe is used to hide or minimize the uglyness.

Trailer removal isn't a big deal. You've gotta have solid ground (gravel, concrete, or plywood). Start with the front of the trailer tongue as low as possible, then block the rear corners. Lift the tongue until the weight is off the rear of the trailer. Pull the trailer forward slowly, and put another block just behind the axle. Continue moving forward and add another block when the rear crossmember reaches the front block. After the trailer is clear, add a couple more side blocks midway.

Ah, you make it sound so easy! I'm sure it's not, especially the first time. I like the bootstripe. Although my boat's lines are not such that would actually accomodate for this. Right where the water line is on my boat there is a lip towards the stern, then it jets sharply under the hull toward the bow.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

thanks, Arks, and I wouldn't pretend to know enough to second guess your marina, but a DIY seeing that might do it wrong, with fatal consequences.

DYL there are dozens of posts on taking the boat off the trailer. Just be very very careful.

 

[HighLineCBR]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

How do you guys take care of the unpainted spots under the blocks? Just paint over once you remove the blocks?

 

[arks]

Re: Bottom Paint Removal Question

Not me. I scraped/sanded/filled and painted. If the boat is blocked, just finish those spots when moved to the trailer.
My boat lives in the water, so I finished her up before launch while she was hangin' from the travellift.
And YES, I did 3 barrier coats and the antifouling at the contact points.