Beneath the antifoul

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rbeange

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Hi,

Today I started stripping - with a scraper - layers of old antifoul. This is the first time I have done this. The attached pictures are what I found beneath. Is this what I should expect? Is there any significance to the white/light brown colours? From here, should my next steps now be to lightly sand, prime and antifoul?

Thanks all
 
I'd say that looks about right, you should be back to the white gelcoat. If you don't want to take the opportunity to get some coats of epoxy on then yes, lightly abrade, primer and antifoul.
I don't think there is any significance to the different colours, mine had various stain type marks when I did it.
 
Great thx. The point of epoxy would be "just in case" there are cracks in the existing gel coat? How many coats would be neccessary? Would I then follow with the primer/antifoul?
 
rbeange said:
Great thx. The point of epoxy would be "just in case" there are cracks in the existing gel coat? How many coats would be neccessary? Would I then follow with the primer/antifoul?
Click to expand...

The epoxy would be an attempt to prevent future osmosis, gel coat on its own is not totally 'waterproof', epoxy is. You may well be better off not knowing about osmosis and ignoring all references to it which will follow on this thread:). It is almost certainly nothing to worry about.
 
rbeange said:
Hi,

Today I started stripping - with a scraper - layers of old antifoul. This is the first time I have done this. The attached pictures are what I found beneath. Is this what I should expect? Is there any significance to the white/light brown colours? From here, should my next steps now be to lightly sand, prime and antifoul?
Thanks all
Click to expand...

Be advised that sealing your hull with an epoxy could make thing worse, the point being that the hull MUST be dry.

Adding an epoxy layer will seal any existing moisture present inside and cause more problems.

Also note, the primer used on epoxy should be for an epoxy, not for the antifoul, a high build epoxy primer is best.

Epoxy sticks very well because it forms a mechanical and a chemical bond, however not much will stick to epoxy unless properly primed.

You would have to sand down the existing gel coat to remove most if not all of the contamination in the scratches and defects shown in the pictures, not a small task but doable.

Good luck and fair winds. :)

PS. You can save yourself a lot of sanding and washing when applying the 5 coats of epoxy by applying it with a roller and have someone come along behind you tipping off with a long bristle fine brush or paint pad or even a suitable foam brush (most foam brushes fall apart when exposed to epoxy resin). Then apply the next coat wet on tacky till all 5 coats are on, then do nothing for at least 24 hrs to allow it to cure.
 
Epoxy coating

I would think the greatest negative to epoxy coating is that it must be done in warm conditions ie above 15 degrees. So in UK you might have to warm a shed or wait till spring. good luck olewill
 
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