Removing paint from GRP

[All_at_Sea]

Looks like the last owner has hand painted on domestic white paint over the GRP. I want to get it off, will Nitromors or similar damage the gelcoat? Any other thoughts?

 

[pvb]

Ordinary Nitromors will damage gelcoat. There's supposed to be a special Nitromors for fibreglass, but opinions are mixed about it. You might try Dilunett (now called Marine Strip), which is safe on gelcoat. Or Interstrip.

 

[pappaecho]

If you can get a small quantity of acetone, test it on the gloss paint. Some paints soften with acetone and some dont. If it does, you can get larger amounts from any GRP shop

 

[Avocet]

Be careful with acetone - it can soften gelcoat too!

I've had mixed experiences with paint stripper on GRP. I used Nitromors on a GRP car once, with no trouble at all, but splashed some on my boat once, when stripping a toe rail and within about 30 seconds the gelcoat was bubbling!

 

[PCUK]

I've just come across a stripper for GRP called 'Enviromose' from builders merchants. It was about £45 for 5 litres and works really well. It also doesn't take your skin off! Google it to get more details

 

[smonard]

I have used polycel advanced paint stripper, its solvent based. I had to strip the paint from the moulded in non slip just to make things more difficult. I'd paint the stuff on, wait a couple of hours then blast it off with a pressure washer. I did have to repeat a few times as there were several coats.

 

[lee1620]

peel away 7

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/p/PALPA7/

worked well on painted decks, ok to use on fibreglass.

Lee

 

[SamSalter]

Not sure how much paint we are talking about, but when I remove painted on boat names I use spray-on oven cleaner! In Canada it's called "Easy-Off", not sure about UK.
Does not affect gelcoat.

 

[G-Force Marine Valeting]

I must agree with Lee, we have used this in the past and works really well.