Hull Blast Cleaning

[slimted]

Does anyone have experience of having a hull blasted clean. I want get back to gel coat and re gelshield. As usual I have now not left myself much time to do it by hand.
I know there seem to be a few systems or processes available
but which ones really work and dont damage gelcoat?
Also I am Medway based is there anyone offering services in this area?

 

[castaway]

I had my boat 'slurrey blasted' when I 1st bought her..i think it cost around £600 buy was worth every penny. I wouldnt even consider any of the other methods!

I used a company in the Southampton area who just did the regular blasting but you might want to check out the Farrow System chaps.

Good luck, Nick

 

[Twister_Ken]

Symblast has been recommended to me by Hamble Yacht Services.

 

[petie]

The Farrow system may well be sound in principle but it is a franchise operation and much depends on the operator. I had mine done very recently and would rate the job as five out of ten. When the hull dried up I found many areas of unremoved antifouling and did not think the hull was very much smoother than it was before the job was done.

 

[mikeplummer]

Hi.

I had 5 years of trilux removed from my Princess 40 last year by Symblast. They did an excellent job in hours for what would have taken me weeks, IMHO very cost effective, but not local to the Medway.

Because it was trilux being removed, they used a fine grit sand as the abrasive ratherthan the more gentle soda(?) option. One word of warning, make sure you seal up every orifice / cavity / even deck area if possible. No matter how careful the operative the spray off goes everywhere.

Good luck

 

[BlueChip]

Just had mine done. A number of things you should ask when choosing someone to do it; make sure to ask how close to the waterline they will blast, we were left with a 6" strip to clean ourselves and this took three days hard work, second ask if they will blast under the prop pads, ours didnt and this is more work for us - the yard would have moved the props had they asked, make sure you close all seacocks - we didnt and now have heads and galley full of grit where they blasted up the drains and finally bag up your saildrive if you have one, we didnt and now have to get grit out of the bearings and water intake
Who did ours - the Antifoul Removal Company of Hythe, apart from the above they did a good job and the hull is clean although they made a huge mess in the yard and the manager is going potty

 

[KevB]

Had my hull cleaned by symblast. They did an excellent job.

And left no mess what so ever.