Antifoul Removal - but what about my Gelshield?

[RufusM]

Really enjoying this month's copy and unfortunately I am one of the many, I am sure, who will have to strip their antifoul this year.

I recently bought a MacWester with tatty antifoul and the survey revealed green Gelshield 200 below which had been applied as a precautionary step. The articles on removing antifoul suggest ways of removing it back to the gelcoat but if I don't want to lose the gelshield then is LIGHT SCRAPING the only option???

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[pappaecho]

I have exactly the same problem with an Evolution 32. Which mag was the article in? I will follow this thread with interest

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[RufusM]

Practical Boat Owner - December edition just came out two days ago

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[capsco]

If the gelshield has been applied properly you will have difficulty removing it with "heavy" scraping never mind light scraping, so do not worry also stripper of any kind will not effect it.

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[Avocet]

I did it last season - removed 7 seasons' antifouling with a scraper and got back to epoxy. It's true, in a few areas, the edge of the scraper caught the epoxy but it is easy enough to touch up again with more epoxy (after suitable abrading). The vast majority of the epoxy was undamaged though.

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[macd]

Agree with other posters that scraping (and/or chemcial stripping) should not remove sound epoxy coating. However, you might find some voids in the old protective coating which might need patching. Surveyors love to scrape it off to show how butch they are.

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[macd]

Agree with other posters that scraping (and/or chemical stripping) should not remove sound gelshield, which is tough stuff. However, you might find some voids in the old protective coating which might need patching. Surveyors love to scrape it off to show how butch they are.

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[Moonfish]

Re: Antifoul Removal - but what about my Gelshield

Due to several reasons, mainly private, i had to leave my Macwester 28 in the water over winter and had not done the usual drying out and scrub at the clubs racks.

When things had sorted out, i finally had her taken out at the yard for a refit. Her antifouling was in place seven or eight coats thick, which i removed with one of the scrapers which attach to a vacuum, new yard rules re: dropping antifoulng.

This did require some considerable brute force, and this was on the original gelcoat, boat circa 1969, and the end result was a perectly smooth hull, with a couple of knicks in the gel coat, which were easily patched up.

Back in the water, the performance was greatly improved, they are tough boats and can take a fair amount of punnishment, good luck.



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[Clive]

Re: Antifoul Removal - but what about my Gelshield

I had the same issue last year on my X-302 I e:mailed International with that Question. Their reply stated that their antifouling paint stripper "Intertstrip" would not remove the Gelsheild 200.. However they forgot to say it would also not remove any primers that had been applier between the various coats of antifouling.

One of the best tools I found was a sharp chissel and great care not to score the hull.

After many, many, many sessions of removing the old antifouling, I wet & dried hull with 180 grit then 2 coats of Gelsheild 200 Just to provide extra protection and the 3 coats of Micron Extra, Hopefully this year all I will need is a light rub down and 2 coats fo Micron Extra

<hr width=100% size=1>Clive

 

[claymore]

I stripped off around 5 - 7 seasons antifouling and didn't damage the green gelshield. I used antifoul stripper which lied through its back teeth in that it didn't just bubble up and fall off at the touch of a light scrape. It took a very sharp skarsten scraper and plenty of pressure so I would make sure you really need to get it off and see if you cannot wet sand it - my forearm has never been the same since!

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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http://www.whoi.edu/services/facilities/CLAYMORE/

 

[pappaecho]

I have just read the PBO article about removal of old antifouling. Today in Hardway ( Gosport) I saw a bloke removing antifouling with a hot air gun. The boat looked as if it was GRP but could have been steel. What is the view on hot air guns to aid scrapers?

<hr width=100% size=1>Def: Yachting - a way of spending the kids inheritance

 

[Avocet]

I could be completely wrong but I'd be extremely wary of applying heat to antifouling. I'd guess the fumes would be poisonous. Also, obviously not a good idea for GRP boats!

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