bottom-sanding-hack-to-save-your-back

[ducked]

Current on the Practical Sailor website/channel

I'm too stingy to be subscribed, so I might be missing something important, but it doesn't, from the accessible photo (of sander foam mounted on a stand) look that great

Isn't whats wanted here is suspending the sander from the deck (or higher) above by a rope, with perhaps another one (and/or bungee) from the far side to pull it in to the hull when working down on the underside around the turn of the bilge?

Or does this work well?

Bottom Sanding Hack To Save Your Back - Practical Sailor

 

[NormanS]

I would have thought that by now, all sensible people would know that dry sanding bottom paint is a no no.

 

[Boathook]

Current on the Practical Sailor website/channel

I'm too stingy to be subscribed, so I might be missing something important, but it doesn't, from the accessible photo (of sander foam mounted on a stand) look that great

Isn't whats wanted here is suspending the sander from the deck (or higher) above by a rope, with perhaps another one (and/or bungee) from the far side to pull it in to the hull when working down on the underside around the turn of the bilge?

Or does this work well?

Bottom Sanding Hack To Save Your Back - Practical Sailor

Opening the link, the first and possibly only picture shows a orbital sander using only the standard dust collector. No attempt at using a vacuum system to filter the 'dust'.
It's bad enough scraping the hull using a vacuum system !

 

[ducked]

I would have thought that by now, all sensible people would know that dry sanding bottom paint is a no no.

I've did this (rather ineffectually) a long time ago, wet, and people laughed at me. I wonder if they are still alive

 

[DanTribe]

Opening the link, the first and possibly only picture shows a orbital sander using only the standard dust collector. No attempt at using a vacuum system to filter the 'dust'.
It's bad enough scraping the hull using a vacuum system !

Especially as he appears to have enclosed the area with plastic to concentrate the effects. Presumably to protect neighbours.
I once had a neighbour make a DIY air fed system using a motorcycle helmet, old cylinder vacuum cleaner set to blow and lashings of duck tape. He tied the inlet on a tall pole and started burning off the antifouling. The inlet fell down and laid just downwind of his work, so he got the full benefit of the fumes. I noticed just as he was keeling over!

 

[Momac]

Last time I used wet sanding using sanding mesh and a sanding plate on pole . Very effective .
Fiddly bits were by hand but overall the mess on me was manageable with gloves , safety eye wear and an old high vis coat which I keep for the job.

 

[ducked]

Especially as he appears to have enclosed the area with plastic to concentrate the effects. Presumably to protect neighbours.
I once had a neighbour make a DIY air fed system using a motorcycle helmet, old cylinder vacuum cleaner set to blow and lashings of duck tape. He tied the inlet on a tall pole and started burning off the antifouling. The inlet fell down and laid just downwind of his work, so he got the full benefit of the fumes. I noticed just as he was keeling over!

I made something like that to restore a ceiling in a crawl space in my Edinburgh flat, which had ash deadening between the floors. Truly horrible stuff, and a horrible job, though the rig worked ok once I'd secured the vacuum cleaner motor against torque reaction, which made it a bit frisky on startup.

Mask was a plastic bag taped over my head though, which didn't give me much time if the hose pulled out.

 

[benjenbav]

Honestly, it’s a job to pay someone else to do. Save your lungs and your back.

 

[ducked]

Dunno about that, but its certainly seems to be a job to be avoided if possible.

I suppose that perhaps indicates indicates investing in that Coppercoat (?) stuff, but I'm not yet sure my free-ish boat warrants it, which probably means I'll put something cheaper on first time around and then have to scrape it off.

Decisions, decisions

 

[NormanS]

Last time I used wet sanding using sanding mesh and a sanding plate on pole . Very effective .
Fiddly bits were by hand but overall the mess on me was manageable with gloves , safety eye wear and an old high vis coat which I keep for the job.
View attachment 188869
View attachment 188870

That's precisely what I use every year on my boat's bottom. Very easy, and stops any build up of antifouling.

 

[Daydream believer]

PBO published my article a few years ago of my solution. I fitted a "Y" fitting made of 2 bits of BAT strap, to the end of a 10 ft length of 2 X 2 softwood. In this I fitted an orbital sander through the handle holes with 2 bolts so it swivelled.
At the balance point I fitted a 2:1 tackle with a snatch block . The other end of this had a piece of BAT strap bent as a hook to hang off the gunwhale of the boat. I stood at the end of the pole & pushed down so the sander pushed up against the hull. It was easy to swing it from side to side & adjust the height on the snatch block.
I dry sanded because that is the fastest way to sand & I was 10ft away from the sander . I used 60 grit paper.

 

[NormanS]

PBO published my article a few years ago of my solution. I fitted a "Y" fitting made of 2 bits of BAT strap, to the end of a 10 ft length of 2 X 2 softwood. In this I fitted an orbital sander through the handle holes with 2 bolts so it swivelled.
At the balance point I fitted a 2:1 tackle with a snatch block . The other end of this had a piece of BAT strap bent as a hook to hang off the gunwhale of the boat. I stood at the end of the pole & pushed down so the sander pushed up against the hull. It was easy to swing it from side to side & adjust the height on the snatch block.
I dry sanded because that is the fastest way to sand & I was 10ft away from the sander . I used 60 grit paper.

And every person and boat in the locality got the 'benefit' of your antifouling dust.

 

[rogerthebodger]

The idea by Daydream believer sounds Ok except the dry sanding using an electric orbit sander.

There are pneumatic sanders available but again would blow dust everywhere.

I have also seen pneumatic sanders which have a water feed that then would keep the dust down and make the sanding more like wet sanding.

Anyone used a water feed pneumatic sander on a balance pole and how did it work.

 

[KevinV]

Dunno about that, but its certainly seems to be a job to be avoided if possible.

I suppose that perhaps indicates indicates investing in that Coppercoat (?) stuff, but I'm not yet sure my free-ish boat warrants it, which probably means I'll put something cheaper on first time around and then have to scrape it off.

Decisions, decisions

I spent 1/3 of the purchase price of my boat on Coppercoat after stripping the boat - a job I don't ever want to do again! Worth every penny.

 

[Daydream believer]

And every person and boat in the locality got the 'benefit' of your antifouling dust.

Yup

 

[ducked]

I spent 1/3 of the purchase price of my boat on Coppercoat after stripping the boat - a job I don't ever want to do again! Worth every penny.

That wouldn't buy me much Coppercoat

 

[ducked]

PBO published my article a few years ago of my solution. I fitted a "Y" fitting made of 2 bits of BAT strap, to the end of a 10 ft length of 2 X 2 softwood. In this I fitted an orbital sander through the handle holes with 2 bolts so it swivelled.
At the balance point I fitted a 2:1 tackle with a snatch block . The other end of this had a piece of BAT strap bent as a hook to hang off the gunwhale of the boat. I stood at the end of the pole & pushed down so the sander pushed up against the hull. It was easy to swing it from side to side & adjust the height on the snatch block.
I dry sanded because that is the fastest way to sand & I was 10ft away from the sander . I used 60 grit paper.

I might need a picture

 

[thinwater]

a. Even in a tent a vacuum sander is obligatory. Bad photo, bad practice. The sander pictured is an RO type that uses perforated paper and screens and can be very effective with a good HEPA vacuum.

b. US practice is different (PS is a US magazine). Wet sanding is often prohibited, but vacuum sanders are mandatory (they will make you stop, fast!!). An N100 mask is also smart.

c. I use a multi-year self-polishing paint, and if you sail hard and stretch it a little, there is really very little to sand. An hour of two of light sanding, nothing requiring special rigging.

It does take care and some expense to set up a proper vacuum sanding rig, and you need to use the correct abrasives, but once you do it is fast and trouble-free. You will NOT dust your neighbors boat. The boat yards in the US rent the rigs inexpensively for those that do not have their own. Bosch sanders are most common.

Having a tented boat does NOT mean that the air is stagnant. A high flow ventilating fan with high MERV filters is common practice.
filter fan

 

[gaylord694]

I would have thought that by now, all sensible people would know that dry sanding bottom paint is a no no.

Perfectly reasonable providing you do it safely and correctly