Removing a ‘fair few’ layers of antifoul with orbital sander?

[thinwater]

I suggest reading some of the California and Washington state studies on copper-based anti-fouling paints. Arguably two the most environmentally active areas in the world. They both started to ban copper paints ... and then decided on a leaching rate limit (9.5 ug/cm2/day) instead, since the non-copper approaches were even scarier. Most 2-year paints meet the new standard. The US EPA is heading the same direction, and so most of the paints world-wide seem to be reformulating for this. I don't follow EU and UK pollices, so please post any currect regulatory info.


Washington Report 2019

 

[Old Harry]

Anyone done this? I’m thinking that with a hoover attached and using decent Mirka pads it might be preferable to scraping. My hope is that with the hoover attached the pads will clog up less quickly.

I know that blasting is the preferred method, but I’m skint.

ay a pro to do it?

 

[Poignard]

The best tool I found for removing antifoul was a young man saving up to get married by doing odd jobs at weekends in addition to his regular job

 

[Biggles Wader]

So the upshot is------Unless you absolutely have to scrape off all the old antifoul for a race finish or to apply coppercoat or similar dont bother. Quick rub down with wet and dry and slap on the next layer. Then go sailing!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

So the upshot is------Unless you absolutely have to scrape off all the old antifoul for a race finish or to apply coppercoat or similar dont bother. Quick rub down with wet and dry and slap on the next layer. Then go sailing!

The upshot of that is that your boat will be dog slow, won’t point, and you’ll curse your missed opportunity 20 times every sail. I cannot understand why something as simple and obvious as below waterline maintenance Is so neglected by so many cruising sailors. Think how many tidal windows you could miss, how much extra fuel you burn, and how others on the water view your lack of progress.

 

[eilerts]

I have tested a few methods for removing bottom paint. I consider none of them marina friendly nor people friendly, and my favorite method is not even boat friendly. An angle grinder is involved. Fast and dirty.
One method that worked surprisingly well, was to use a cheap electric plane for wood. It will be a wreck at the end of the job. You have work a bit with the depth setting, and watch it so it does not clog up. It will of course only work on flat and convex surfaces. up front I suspected that it would dig in and take away the gelcoat, but that was never a problem on the boat it was tested on. Perhaps the blade quickly became too dull to harm the gelcoat, but still good enough for the softer anti fouling. It was terribly loud, so it will not be a joy, even if it works. Test this on your own risk.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Oh.
Will have agree to disagree.. A marina with loads of boats can't be doing the local area much good in my eyes.. You can balance that out but putting the whole oceans and seas in the mill if you want.. Ps I am a boater and do apply antifoul... But let's not kid ourselfs. IMO.

I use copper based antifoul too.

My marina is packed in tight within a small area. I'm amazed that wild life is still interested in the place.
The bottom fouling is high though, loads of mullet and jellyfish in season and it seems to be a popular transit lounge for many amphibious birdlife species.

The future probably lies with a limpet bottom scrubber guided remotely at work in the lunch hourby our mobile phones. Perhaps Hempel and International are investing to market the best one first.

 

[Daydream believer]

The best tool I found for removing antifoul was a young man saving up to get married by doing odd jobs at weekends in addition to his regular job

Only problem is finding an owner willing to pay him a decent wage to do the job
Dream on

 

[Poignard]

Only problem is finding an owner willing to pay him a decent wage to do the job
Dream on

I paid him the hourly rate he asked for so I can only assume he was satisfied with that.

Mind you, he didn't invite me to his wedding. ?

 

[silverdawn]

Anyone done this? I’m thinking that with a hoover attached and using decent Mirka pads it might be preferable to scraping. My hope is that with the hoover attached the pads will clog up less quickly.

I know that blasting is the preferred method, but I’m skint.

I removed several layers using a special steel scraper followed by sanding this was on on my 28ft Colvic Countess bilge Keeler I was 68 years old at the time took me 8 days of hard graft WORSE job ever , once started you will regret it, I had no option because the boatyard wouldn't allow sand blasters on site owing to them previously covering several boats in a film of sand dust when blasting another boat .

 

[bluerm166]

Has anybody tried this product? £220 per 10 kg container which does 4m² per kg
Peelaway Marine Anti-foul Removal | Peel Away

Yes I used the earlier type 7 Peelaway which at that time listed 'plastics' (I still have the containers) and somewhere grp* as a suitable surface (if not polycarbonate/acrylic ).
Foxes actually show a rather better price for 10 kg at £160 if you use the marine variety.I see that decorator distributors don't carry the marine version - and vice versa.Not sure what the type 7 lacked or found anything that suggests it to be deleterious on grp .Environmental clean up can't be the issue as there is no dust produced and the heavy damp 'peels' drop straight onto a tarp for easy disposal.
I used 14 kg on a 8M hull about 4 years ago.So probably laying it on a bit thick and in some stubborn areas with a second application to get back to the clean hull.
I used in on a considerable build up of many years of antifoul and I found it worth it to break the back of the job and obviate dust.You don't need to buy their polythene if you run out - council rubbish sacks do just as well .

* found it : Barrentine's own 2022 website currently lists grp as a suitable surface for Peelaway 7 use.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Yep, a pull scraper and keep it wet with a jetwasher to prevent dust.

Yep, its a horrid job.

 

[KREW2]

To me dry sanding antifoul is a no no, too much dust even with a vacuum.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Scraper/dp/B002DKYKU6

A good respirator mask, keep the working area damp, and attach one of the above to a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. Then you wonder why the hell did you by a 35 footer.