Slurry blasting on Expoxy - would you risk it?

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Two sets of professionals say different things:

The "slurry blast contractors" say - "no worries with epoxy, we blast gently and won't damage the epoxy coating"

The "general boat yard contractors" say - "the old antifoul will have to be removed by hand to avoid knackering the epoxy coating"

Any views on here?

TIA

Rob

 

[Mirelle]

My experience may be out of date, but

My wooden boat was slurry blasted to remove old antifoul in 1988; it raised the grain on the (teak) planking and I would not do it again.

 

[Cobra25]

You can get insurance to cover any damage done to your boat costs about £10 p.a. Might be helpful in the event of a mishap by an expert. There is info on the web about slurry blasting. BoL

 

[anubis]

Just seen the end result of it carried out on a boat with minor osmo. Opened up the osmo blisters and made pin holes all over the hull in the gel coat. No way would I do this.

 

[celandine]

It is OK to slurry blast on an epoxy coating, (I have done it many times) provided you pay attention to the following:

Blast pot settings.
The right type of grit.
Machine in hands of experienced person.
The underlying epoxy was properly applied in the first place.

If it is done right it should leave the epoxy layer virtually untouched but with an egg-shell surface ideal to key on your anti-foul.
If the epoxy coating was not originally applied properly, such as over an insufficiently prepared surface, it might start to come off in uneven patches and this can cause complications. I usually test a small area to determine this at the outset.

Mick

 

[anubis]

I think that's the point. Too many 'ifs' which potentially leave owners looking at a lot of expense to put right. Is slurry blasting an art or a science? It is definately not for the financially feint hearted, why should owners have to take a risk?

 

[celandine]

It's a science not an art, and therefore the outcome is perfectly predictable. There is no risk if the work is being done by an operator experienced with grp. If the epoxy layer starts coming off, then it is a failed coating anyway and needs to come off. This envolves more work but the outcome will be a better protected laminate.

Mick

 

[tcm]

i avoided either by using Removall 610 - it works.

 

[Casey]

I had my clinker built wooden boat blasted three years ago and it left the Mahogany in just the right state for a quick sand off and repaint. It was an excellent job done with the Farrow system which is regularly advertised in the boating press. I would recommend it!

 

[VicMallows]

Are you saying this removes the A/F only, or the epoxy as well? If A/F only, please suggest cost/supplier, since havn't heard of this particular one before.

Vic

 

[anubis]

Slurry blasting: Dont worry if it goes wrong buy another one.

The problem we all have is the considerable variation in practice of people claiming to be using a professional system or to be professional. What goes with this territory is a range of underlying assumptions, projecting trust and good faith. I don't think it is reasonable to say well if your gel coat falls of it needed to come of anyway. Of course there are the cases where the gel coat didn't fall off but it is now pitted and considerably thinner than before. Again the point is we are living in a throw away society. If the boat is 20years old treat it like it is and the owner with some respect. Boats need care. There are many sensible and appropriate ways to clean off a hull. Surely the fact that this thread is raising the question highlights the fact that owners have found themselves disatisfied with the results...otherwise we would all be booking in for a quick fix.
Save your money and buy a Yeoman plotter. No contradictory advice here. A good product used by RNLI and safe. I believe no liability if used inappropriately! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[tcm]

if you google for "removall" you wil find the suppplier based s coast i think. He sounds a bit banditish but the product is ace. I rolelred on about .5 litre per sq m and ther nwext morning could just walk it off with 8inch scraper no effort at all. Removes alla/f down to epoxy tho,. not epoxy

 

[celandine]

Re: Slurry blasting: Dont worry if it goes wrong buy another one.

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think it reasonable to say well if your gel coat falls off it needed to come of anyway

[/ QUOTE ]
If you had taken the trouble to read my post properly you would see that I said epoxy coating and not gel coat. You should understand that these are two very different things. And you may rest assured that I treat all boats and their owners "...with some respect"