Best way to remove oldd bottom paint?

I've been trying to sand it off and not having much luck. Any suggestions?

Thanks Eris. Do you have to wash the stripper off with water? I would have a hard time getting water the the shop.

8122pbrainard wrote: Geno, Have you tried a methylene cloride based stripper such as Zip strip? It should go after the bottom paint. It can then be solvent wiped.

No - but I will soon. Thanks. Solvent wiped? Please explain.

Hi Geno,

I had the same issue to deal with my 92. I started by using a marine remover. I think it was Aqua Strip... It worked ok to get the first layer or so. It doesn't seem to penetrate the anti fouling too well but it got some of it. I essentially ended up (carefully)using a DA w/400 and some yoga moves to sand it off. I DID end up toasting a bearing in the DA. I don't think that they like being turned upside down for long periods. The condensation doesn't seem to exhaust.

Steve.

Thanks Pete - that's the info I was looking for. I just read the faqs over at zip strip and learned a lot too.

Geno, Oven cleaner is basicly caustic soda with some surfactants added so it "wets" out on the surface. Regretably it is water soluble.

Geno if you want to try the oven cleaner route just a get a bucket of hot water and a rage and just wipe it down, you don't have to spray it off, you don't use a hose to wash out your stoves oven do you? ok smart ass not everyone has a self cleaning oven.

I'm with you on this one. Never cleaned an oven before. Cleaned the gutters last weekend though.

Geno, Sounds like a good plan but be carefull with the oven cleaner. You might end up using it on what it was intended for!!!

Easy off oven cleaner removes toxic, hideous, omg bottom paint like you wouldn't believe. I have never seen anything work like this - I ground on this hull for 3.5 hours to clean out a 1.5x2.5 area. Today I cleaned half a hull in less than an hour.

The spot I ground out in 3.5 hours with 80 grit and a da


My test spot with easy off after 10 minutes


My test spot after 20 minutes (100% removal with a thick coat)


A very thin coat left on for thirty minutes


Clean black trailer with nifty dump truck tail lights that I had on hand


I will be using the oven cleaner method since it works so well but I will be hooking up our steam cleaner to blow off the mess. The new plan is we'll be squegying it out the shop as we go. Can you say toxic waste? lol

bkhallpass wrote: Be careful, the oven cleaner will take the paint off your trailer, your tool box, your building, etc. Works great on gel coat though. So question - it looks like you've got really nice white gel coat under there. Looks like it could be color/wet sanded and brought back to a great original shine. Are you still planning to paint the boat??? BKH

Will be moving the work truck and trailer WAAAYY out on the yard.

Actually the original gel is a hideous olive green. She's been painted white at some point in her 38 year life. The oven cleaner is not eating through the white paint which is thrilling me because I can sand down to it without any damage now with just 220.

She started life as an olive green spoiler. I love that but hate the color. She's going back a lovely Yucatan Yellow or a pale blue. Both original colors for that year but not her original color.