Antifouling removal

[Neeves]

Antifouling removal comes up regularly. There was a thread on removal with a sander very recently which left me cold and in horror.

Propspeed, the silicone coating for running gear, have recently introduced 'Stripspeed' which may be of interest.

I know nothing about the product but thought it worth airing.

Stripspeed by Propspeed | Marine Paint Remover | Coating Remover

Stripspeed appears to have been developed to remove Propspeed preparatory to application of new Propspeed and there is no mention of application on fibreglass, nor of removal of conventional AF. But if you believe in PropSpeed then it can be applied to both the prop and sail drive and it is effective (debateable if its any better or worse than Velox) but if Propspeed works for you on your prop - it will work on the sail drive. I can advice trying to remove old Propspeed is very time consuming - so I can see the need for Stripspeed.

Jonathan

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I’ve got a 10l can of silic one stripper in the workshop. We used one can, maybe it made it softer. Silicone fouling prevention is nearly a one way street. Removing all traces before conventional paint is incredibly hard and incredibly vital. It also ‘infects’ your tools. I had to throw away a power sander as it was full of silicone dust. Plus a good supply if stripping blades. We stripped it as it appeared to be attracting weed.

 

[Slowtack]

These are effective....................just grind the blade corners down before use to avoid skidding into the gelcoat.

 

[zoidberg]

Do they do a left-handed model....?

 

[VicS]

Do they do a left-handed model....?

Yes

 

[Neeves]

I’ve got a 10l can of silic one stripper in the workshop. We used one can, maybe it made it softer. Silicone fouling prevention is nearly a one way street. Removing all traces before conventional paint is incredibly hard and incredibly vital. It also ‘infects’ your tools. I had to throw away a power sander as it was full of silicone dust. Plus a good supply if stripping blades. We stripped it as it appeared to be attracting weed.

We had the same problem with Prop Speed - but it is easier to handle than a fibreglass hull. There really should be a warning that nothing sticks to a previously silicone coated hull. For prop and saildrive I used a stainless steel wire brush on the angle grinder and then a blow torch. A blow torch would not work on fibreglass (and the wire brush on an angle grinder would also remove the gelcoat ).

Once the sail drive and prop had cooled down I used solvent, then further wire brush. It was time consuming, very.

Prop speed is "OK" on props and sail drive, but then so is Velox. Both are not difficult to apply but you need to be meticulous. Neither are particularly cheap (Prop Speed and Velox). But based on our experience with Prop Speed I would not try the same technology on a hull unless I hear really glowing reports - the removal is a night mare.

I read the small print - and like most AF products Prop Speed is suspected to be, unhealthy, in this case carcinogenic.

Jonathan

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We had the same problem with Prop Speed - but it is easier to handle than a fibreglass hull. There really should be a warning that nothing sticks to a previously silicone coated hull. For prop and saildrive I used a stainless steel wire brush on the angle grinder and then a blow torch. A blow torch would not work on fibreglass (and the wire brush on an angle grinder would also remove the gelcoat ).

Once the sail drive and prop had cooled down I used solvent, then further wire brush. It was time consuming, very.

Prop speed is "OK" on props and sail drive, but then so is Velox. Both are not difficult to apply but you need to be meticulous. Neither are particularly cheap (Prop Speed and Velox). But based on our experience with Prop Speed I would not try the same technology on a hull unless I hear really glowing reports - the removal is a night mare.

I read the small print - and like most AF products Prop Speed is suspected to be, unhealthy, in this case carcinogenic.

Jonathan

If the hull in question had been GRP it might have been slightly easier, but it was wood. Let me assure you, the same tech on a hull is a disaster, unless you can crane out and jet wash every week. It was our race boat, it came with the stuff on. We just went slower and slower. I dived on the hull every week, but it wasn’t enough. However, the practice in a hideously slow boat must have done wonders for us. Having ripped it off (my wife used that left handed scraper up there) we win our 1st race back in the water, much to everyone's surprise. It might work on a regularly used fast motor boat. A club rescue boat maybe. Not on an XOD