Nitromors, the GRP killer

[tome]

Boats out of the water and I thought I'd tidy up the topsides. There's a thick blue line running along the top of the hull which has become a bit scruffy ( flaky paint etc).

I've spent many hours rubbing it down in preparation for a profesional spray job, but still there's loose paint. 50 sanding disks later, shold I apply Nitromors to strip it or will this be the kiss of death to the gelcoat?

No getting your own back for any of my recent posts!

Regards
Tom

 

[Piers]

No - instead, try speaking with Peter Furby of 3M products - a sponsor of MBM Cruise Club, and see what he has to say, first.

07770 284 926

He brought the GRP back to life on my boat....

Piers du Pré
MBM Cruising Club enthusiast
www.dupre.co.uk/fsPlaydeau.htm

 

[longjohnsilver]

Shouldn't be a problem, I've used it on GRP to good effect, if in doubt try it on a very small area to start with.

 

[extravert]

This year I have chemically stripped all the below-waterline paint off my boat. The advice I heard was never use nitromors of fibreglass because it will damage the gelcoat, so I didn't try it. Instead I used International Interstrip which does exactly as it says on the tin, ie strips paint from fibreglass without damaging the gelcoat. My bottom has come up like new, although it was lots of hard work.

As there are special paint strippers for fibreglass, why not use one of those? Interstrip comes in 750ml tins for about £12. There's also another common one called Dilunet, but I had less success with that. It's about the same price.

 

[ccscott49]

Nitromors make a fibreglass paint stripper, which does not affect the gel coat.

 

[WayneS]

I have used it before.

Just make sure you remove any splatters and do not leave it on too long or it will damage the gelcoat.

Wayne

 

[tome]

According to their web site, Interstrip is for removing antifouling (although it would probably work above the WL).

 

[brianrunyard]

I used "Striprite" comes in a 2.5 litre container for £15. Much cheeper than International.
It worked like a charm, brushed it on, left it 24 hours, Pressure wash off, job done.

Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard

 

[oldharry]

Nitromors is formulated to remove oil based paints. Polyester resin is oil based, therefore Nitromors will go on to attack the Gelcoat.

It MAY be possible to get away with it - but why take the risk on your expensive boat when there are strippers specifically designed to work on GRP?

 

[tome]

Thanks to all for your responses.

I talked with Peter Furby who gave me a contact at Blakes (Peter also thought that Nitromors would be harmful to the gelcoat, and that using abrasives would damage the gelcoat around the blue sheer line).

I also tried looking up Striprite, but could only find reference to bead-blasting abrasives.

I'll talk to Blakes Friday and post any useful advice.

 

[Mirelle]

Do you mean to say....

That the way to get rid of a plastic boat is to paint Nitromors on it?

I knew the stuff was good for something!

 

[tome]

Re: Do you mean to say....

There's a similar product for wooden boats called Gribble...

...but I don't want to open a can of worms!

 

[chippie]

Re: Do you mean to say....

Well said sir!

 

[martinparsons]

The short answet is YES don't try it unless you're ready to wash it off quickly. I used it to remove the gelcoat from a Peerless Car ( it was heavily crazed) and by golly it worked.

 

[oldharry]

READ THE LABEL!!!!!!

The label on the tin says in large letters - clear for all to see:

DO NOT USE ON GRP.

So why ask!

 

[tome]

Re: READ THE LABEL!!!!!!

Clear to see if you have a tin in front of you!

In the event I used Ladlows Safe Stripper, various scrapers, an orbital sander and 65 disks of 180 grit. Plus over 50 hours of elbow grease. I was grateful for the shower facilities at Emsworth as I started to resemble a monster from the blue lagoon, covered from head to foot in blue powder.

Boat is now ready for topside spray and am now WOW (waiting on weather).

Thanks to all for your replies