Antifouling remover

tjc

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Having spent all day with a chisel scraping off 15 layers of antifouling someone please tell me that there is am easier way. Are the removers any good, if so which ones?
 
G

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Having spent last winter doing the job - nothing is easy. But I used a Sandvik scraper with a 2" blade and by replacing the blades quite frequently it is effective. The scraper is drawn across the hull with one hand whilst keeping pressure on the blade with the other and allows control of the process.
I vowed that if I was doing it again i would tbring in someone with a wet slurry blast process but in our part of the world this isn't an option......
Good luck
 
G

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Here in the US there are "chemical anti-fouling removers" that are brushed or rolled on to the hull, and allowed to work for a while then you scrape it off with a spatula or putty knife. They are moderately effective, but are rather pricey. A 5 gallon bucket costs about $230.00 US.

They make the job easier....but it all depends on the value of your time as opposed versus the cost of the paint remover.

I don't remove all of my paint when I haul out. I inspect the hull and if there are no appearances of blisters, I sand the hull and repaint, let it dry and then relaunch.
 

jamesjermain

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This topic came up on the Board a short while ago. You can use the search engine to locate it (try keywords such as Aitifouling and paint stripping).

The concensus then, which I agree with, is that the chemical methods are not very effective, particularly when there are several layers to remove.

Gentle slurry blasting, on the other hand, is quick, does no significant damage and leaves a good surface for recoating. There is a cost penalty, obviously, though I am not sure what it is.

The only other option is hard work with the scrapper. Do bear in mind if you are sanding off, that the dust is toxic and you must use we-or-dry paper well wetted and cover up with mask, goggles and overalls.

JJ
 
G

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Having spent many weekends with alkaline paint stripper up the sleeve of my overalls only to have some bright spark come along and say " My mate could have slurry blasted that for £ 100 cash". No contest, go for the blasting every time.
 
G

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Just a thought !

Like most people I have read a few books about Osmosis and Wicking - many of whom contradict each other on some things.

However, there is reasonable agreement on the removal of antifouling. If you had an epoxy coating this will probably be scraped off or badly damaged which means that the hull will have to dry out for some months before renewing again. On the plus side, you will now be able to have a good look at the hull which is more difficult with antifoul on.

Regards
 
G

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I tried International's antifouling remover - I think it was called Interstrip - nasty, smelly, expensive and didn't shift my antifouling. Have looked into the cost of slurry blasting - £10 per foot plus £60 per keel - so my Centaur works out at £380 but they also charge 40p per mile travelling costs - so it can be expensive. NB be careful who you get to do the slurry blasting - it is very easy to damage the gelcoat so go for someone who knows what they are doing.
 

robp

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There is usually an ad (classified I thinK), in the back of PBO, for mobile slurry blast. It was the subject of a report on a new system in one of the mags a year or so back. Bournemouth or Poole number.
 
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