Antifouling removal

Sofus

Sofus

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I am currently deep into my project to restore my 1945 "misanier" (lug rig). I am getting close to the day when I will have to remove the old antifouling, which is layer upon layer and more than one millimeter thick in places. This could of course be done the traditional way by scraping down to bare wood, but the boat sits on it keel and it is difficult and strenuous to get to all the places. I am not getting any younger, either, so I had hoped that there existed a decent antifouling removal stuff which I could smear on and spray off using my high pressure cleaner.
Does anyone have experience with this? Perhaps someone has a better idea?
 
Been there, done that thing, got the red hair and fake sunburn...

Lovely idea, but I don't know of any such product.

I once had the boat "sand washed" to remove a great thickness of antifouling, on the suggestion of the yard; although she is teak planked it eroded the wood and raised the grain alarmingly and I won't do that again.

Subsequently I have had sucess with a big Sandvik scraper (no need for a sharp, new, blade - this is a good way to use up old blades!) and a good mask. The Sandvik scraper is very effective at getting old antifouling off and I will use it again next time. I found that with a bit of care one could get the antifoul off and leave the primer coat almost intact!
 
I'd be very cautious about all the chemicals on the market. Most mechanical means will damage the grain, you might talk to the farrow system people, they claim their process is gentle on timber.

Have you looked at having it peeled? you can use the peeling method they use for removing gelcoat on frozen snot boats that are suffering from osmosis for removing paint on wooden boats. Pete Jenks in the solent area runs Swanwick Grit Blast and I know he has peeled some wood boats, not sure uf he'd go to France.

Pay someone to do the scraping with a sandvik scraper I say.
 
I've seen a 30' Bates Starcraft done in the barns at Hurley when Trevor Green was there, very impressed with the result, again it was a gelcoat remover as noted above being used on a wooden boat.

IanC
 
Re: Been there, done that thing, got the red hair and fake sunburn...

Thank you. I was afraid you would suggest something along those lines. I'm going back to Norway for the Christmas (plus, plus) and will bring back a Sandvik scraper (or two).
 
I have used the Farrow system with very good results. Kala Sona is Mahogany over Oak and the guy who did it seemed to know his stuff as the finish he left simply needed a rub over with sandpaper and then straight on with the woodseal. There was no raised grain and none of the ,edges of the lands were affected. He even did the cast iron keel and finished it off with Jenolite or some such metal primer. I only had below the water line done and regretted it afterwards when I had to burn the paint off the rest of the boat. Unfortunately the bloke who did it seems to have gone out of business.
 
I have yet to see ANY timber vessel sucssesfully blasted with grit, beads etc. There is always some damage.
Stick with a good scraper and delligate...........find a hungry student!
 
Re: Been there, done that thing, got the red hair and fake sunburn...

Mirelle,

if those were Sandvik scrapers you lent Lily and I back in summer 2004 to scrape of Amadis' old antifouling at the boatyard in Woodbridge, I can personally vouce for them, they worked a treat.

Made our '2 week out of the water' deadline almost possible! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: Been there, done that thing, got the red hair and fake sunburn...

Yes, they were. I also loaned one to Archie when he had to strip the a/f off a big ex-RNLI lifeboat and he said the same!
 
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