Bottom paint...removal.

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soldsoul4foos

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Ok, I've made the brave decision to remove the bottom paint from my 27' baja myself. I know it's going to be alot of labor on my part. I have a few questions before I get started in a couple weeks.

1. AFter talking to a tech at a boat shop i do computer work at, he recommends sanding it off just to the point of the gel coat, then sanding with finer and finer papers to a smooth finish. How should I then finalize the refinishing of the gel coat? Or is just wax the last step?

2. Is it possible to pressure wash the majority of the bottom paint off? It looks/feels like it's already flaking off. I'd certainly be down for buying a good pressure washer for this purpose. If so, what pressures are needed to do the job?

3. Any thoughts from experince on pitfalls I might get into? :(

Thanks in advance for any advice....wish me luck.

Regards,
Bill--Sebago Lake Maine.
 
I replied in the ATC forum, but posting here was a good move. Mike can give you chapter and verse on the subject.
 
I purchased a pressure washer, the largest one I could find for around $500. That along with the paint-stripping wand took quite a bit of the paint off. From there, I used putty knives of assorted sizes depending upon the surface. My gelcoat still had a waxed feel under the paint so the tools did not dig into the surface. You may have different results if the glass was sanded prior to painting.

It all came off, I sanded after to ensure the barrier coat adhered well. Sounds as though you are not repainting, so you can finish up with some compound and wax.
 
your on the right track. how to get the paint off can be achevied multiple ways. strippers, sanding, scraping, pressure washing. thats up to you. its hard to tell what would be the easiest w/o a picture, but if its flaking off now, a good scraping with a paint scraper should remove most of it. then you can sand the rest lightly.
once you got it off, you bottom is gonna be colored whatever color the paint is from the dust. invest in some acetone and gloves, and wipe, wipe, wipe. actually, you'll be investing in some rags too. ;)

once the paint is off, usually you can start with 300 grit paper, get it smooth, move to the next up or even 600 if that will remove the scratches. basically, after each sanding you'll be moving up to the next grit. once your in the 600's you can start the wetsanding process. sand to 1000 grit, or even 1200. now it'll be smooth, but definatley not shiny. your gonna have to lay on you back with a polisher and some compound and go to work. compound the bottom, polish again (both of which are very messy when on your back). after that you can wax it up and be ready.

its alot of work, but on a boat like yours it may be worth all the labor, if not for your appeal... at least at resale
 
i USED PEELAWAY AND IT WORKED GREAT THE GLASS HADNT BEEN SANDED . IUSED COMPOND THEN WAX ITS A JOB BUT CAN BE DOON
 
That's exactly what I was thinking Mike. Thanks. I got the boat that is finally comfortable in the rough stuff, and big enough for the 4 of us. I'm just tackling everything from the get go and doing it right. I've cleaned my work plate for the next couple of months so i can refinish the bottom, install sound, and replace all the gauges and dash panels. wish me luck :)
 
Try the Petit paint remover, it's water based and works like the peelaway.

Jonathan
 
So...just went to lowes this morning. Should I purchase.....a) power washer #1-3000psi, 2.7 gpm, $399 or b) 3800psi, 4gpm, $999. What do you think?
 
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