Removing Anti-fouling

[Elza_Skip]

I have recently purchased my first boat, a 21ft Motor cruiser. She is 7 years old and seems to have 7 years worth of antifouling.

When the boat was surveyed we were recommended to strip the anti-fouling , check all the gel coat and then re-paint.

The anti fouling does not seem to be the eroding type but has a quite hard finish that chips quite easily.

What is the best method of removal without damaging the gel coat? At the boat show we saw a chemical stripper like paint stripper that was said to be safe for the gel coat. Any suggestions?

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[alahol2]

When I did it, tried stripper but it made a disgusting mess that only made the job harder. In the end resorted to a 1.5 inch chisel which took it off cleanly (only a few gouges). As well as the tedium it's somehow therapeutic and satisfying...

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.troppo.co.uk> Follow the Tightwad Sailor</A>

 

[alanporter]

I spent quite a lot on various brands of bottom paint stripper and didn't find any of them any good. None of them softened more than one coat of paint at a time. On the advice of a professional boatwright I bought a paint scraper with a tungsten carbide blade. Worked a treat.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter

 

[TheBoatman]

My uncle is having his boats anti fouling removed professionally this winter. There are companies out there that can strip all the antifouling off without damaging the gel coat. This particular company use a slurry mix and blast it off.
If you want more details pm me!

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[sailorman]

just had a quote from marina £570 37 ft o/all.
wont be going down that route

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[boatmike]

Get a large flat file (as big as you can find) grind the serrations off both sides on a pedestal grinder for about 2" back from the end. Then grind a slight radius on the end at 90 degrees to the flats and (important) take the sharp edge off the corners. You now have a "chisel" that you can use with both hands that will rip the old hard antifoul off in no time. The more layers there are the easier it chips. You also have 2 edges on it and its easy to sharpen if it gets blunt. Being heavier and longer than a chisel and not having sharp corners you can put your weight behind it. The 90 degree "cutting edge" won't dig in and the corners won't gouge your gel coat. Wear eye protection as chips in the eyeball hurt....
Far easier than messy chemicals. And much cheaper too. Give the gel coat underneath a good sanding for a key for the new antifoul afterwards. Having got that far you are ideally placed to give it a few coats of epoxy too but if you do check there is no moisture in the hull first (you will need to hire or borrow a moisture meter for this) Hope this helps...

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[brianrunyard]

I cleaned several years worth of using an Anti-foul stipper.
Can't remember the name, but it was much cheaper than the International version.
It's a gel, looks very much like wallpaper paste, brush it on leave overnight but don't let it dry out, then pressure wash.
Took it right back to the gel coat.

<hr width=100% size=1>Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard

 

[Clive]

I stripped my x-yacht, which is based on the Hamble, down to gel coat last winter using International antifouling stripper. It took a dozen tins, @ £38 each. Expensive!!.

I was told that one can have the hull Bead (not sand) blasted which removes the antifouling, but does not damage the gel coat. I was told the cost was £250+vat. if true it would have been worth every penny.

<hr width=100% size=1>Clive

 

[Evadne]

I believe it is normal to paint MoBos with non-eroding antifouling, as the erosion forces are much stronger than on a sailing boat. I, too, used a 2-handed carbide blade to remove 20 years' worth of the stuff. We also used International stripper but for 14 coats you'd need at least 2-3 applications, it takes off only 3 coats at a time, maximum. I did hear of a firm on Hayling Island marketing a new type of A/F stripper in the spring, but couldn't find anyone who'd used it. A search on the archives will reveal more information than you thought possible.

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[tcm]

Re: Removall 610

Self and friend "talbot" another poster stripped the antifoul off a 23metre boat with this purpose-made marine stuff for grp hulls in a few hours. You lash the stuff on - it says spray it but a roller or brush will do fine - then leave overnight and the antifoul falls off or scrpaes very smoothly. You need half to one litre per sq metre. You need repeated coats if the first few coats drop off taking the stripper with it. Also, make sure you strir it for ten minutes before applying. Not cheap - about 7 quid a litre, but tons easier than alternatives and very effective. Will remove everything down to grp, reagrdless of hardness of antifoul. Google for "removall" to find uk stockist.

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[Talbot]

Re: Removall 610

I was sceptical about <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.paint-stripper.co.uk/removall_paint_stripper_marine.htm>Removall</A> but most impressed by it in action. saved an enormous amount of hard work on TCMs little mobo - to be honest I dont think the strip and replacement of his antifouling could have been done in the time with any other product.

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[Elza_Skip]

Thanks everyone, plenty of food for thought..

There only appears to be a few layers (It was not antifouled every years as she was stored ashore, so I will try a blade to start with and see how I get on, resorting to chemicals if this does not work.

I am hopeful that it should come off fairly easily as it has chipped back to the Gel where my trailer roller run.

Ta


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[ashanta]

There is a scraper with tungsten blades that do the job very easily. I did my 31ft boat 2 seasons ago with little effort. I am at work at the moment but I will PM you with name of it tonight.
Don't spend lots of money on a job that can easily be done by yourself.

Regards.

Peter.

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[LittleShip]

Get yourself one of these, you will find many more uses for it than scraping anti foul. it is also clean and reduces your risk of contamination from what is a poison!!

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.gelplane.co.uk/proscraper/marine.asp>http://www.gelplane.co.uk/proscraper/marine.asp</A>

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I wish I'd been born rich instead of good looking ?

 

[Evadne]

Sandvik do a very good two-handed scraper, with replaceable blades. There is at least one other make. I got mine from B&Q, though I think they're in Screwfix as well. Go easy with a fresh blade - I was using mine to take the gelcoat off the deck (on purpose) last year.

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[Stemar]

Watched <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.farrowsystem.com>these people</A> at the Lowestoft Boat Show earlier this year. They seemed to be doing a good job, and seriously quick.

Don't know about the price, though.

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[tcm]

Re:\"resoting\"to chemicals

um, you'll do more damage with mechanical tools than you will with the rigth chemicals, imho. Have a look at talbot' s link to removall.

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[macd]

I somehow found myself doing the job twice in the past 2 winters. The other post is correct re Sandvik scrapers -- magnificent things, and only about £10 from B&Q. Most old antifoul should come off with these and lots of elbow grease. Stubborn areas can be treated with home-made stripper: caustic soda crystals dissolved in water (add crystals to water, not other way round), then stiffened with cheap wallpaper paste so it doesn't run off the hull. £5 will get you a bucket-full. Let the caustic do the business, then scrape off. And, obviousy, wear gloves, overalls and goggles -- it's pretty...er..caustic stuff.

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[bilge]

Re: Removall 610

Like talbot, I too was doubtful abot this stuff - thought it might rip through the gel coat. However, to cut a long story short, it does what it says on the tub and took the anti-foul off without affecting anything underneath. Bit slow to work at times and took 2 applications in some areas where it was thicker but you just put in on and leave until it's ready to come off. Took a lot of hassle out of this b*lls-aching job and left more time for more enjoyable stuff. Couldn't get talbot's link to work but found Removall at: www.paint-stripper.co.uk

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