TOTAL ANTIFOUL REMOVAL and some sunset pix at sea

[drewstwos]

HI all. Just a couple of things

Well the weather’s been crap for some weeks now and looks likely to be so again in the near future, but at long last we actually got three days of glorious sunshine with little or no wind at all. So we got a couple of wonderful trips out. The last one was an evening one as the tides dictated when we left and when we had to return by. On the way back the sun was setting so I took these pix for your contemplation. All were taken around the Calf Sound, surely known to many of you.
Enjoy

The other matter is ….has anyone managed to remove ALL the old antifouling and got back to the gel coat. If so HOW, and is it possible to use a fine grit blaster, or would that be too drastic. I know it is possible to do this with commercial extra strong paint remover over many many applications, but at my advanced years this is not too appealing, lying on my back on the cold hard cancrete in the deep mid winter...so to speak. with the corrosive drips etc....'nuff said about that I think..

Your comments on both these items would really be appreciated.

Cheers /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Drew

 

[landlockedpirate]

Great Pictures.

I have managed to remove all the antifoul off my hull, after experimenting with lots of methods, the one that worked was the simplest.

I used a standard B&Q scraper with the edges rounded off, its not quick to do and your shoulders ache for days afterwards. After polishing the hull came up like new.

 

[DAKA]

Great set of photos .

I think Nick had his boat grit blasted recently, perhaps send him a pm to ask what he though.

My personal view is I would never have a grit blast or paint stripper anywhere near my gel coat.

A few years ago at lift out a friend had his 1987 Fairline corniche at the side of my 1988 corniche.
He wanted me to join him for a slurry blast of 'gentle soda'.
I wasn't keen even when offered a two for one deal and declined.
My mate went ahead and I saw the damage the following weekend

Whole hull was riddled with small holes in the gel coat.
The whole boat had to be filled and epoxy coated.
At some stage a section of 1 ft by 2 ft on my bow had also been blasted.
It is unclear if
they started on the wrong boat.
they hit it by accident
they wanted to see if my hull would also be wrecked
they thought it was such a good job I would want mine done


My 'test' section was also covered with pin prick holes that I needed to fill.
I was pleased a small section had been tested as it confirmed to me that GRP shouldn't be grit blasted unless it needs an osmosis treatment.
A friend was then kind enough to clean my hull with an electric chisel, the old antifoul came off and left beautiful white shinny gelcoat with no visible signs of weakness.
It is clear that older boats have naturally occurring bubble holes deep within the gel coat that are created during the mixing. These bubbles are fine and will not cause a problem unless the Gel coat is overpolished with compound, over sanded or slurry/grit blasted.

The slurry blast had not made the holes but it had exposed voids that had been water tight for 15 years (moisture reading were very good).

The grass under the treated boat has still not grown back and turned into a bog for a while.

From my experience I would only have a slurry blast on a modern boat that had used a vacuum technique to mix the gel coat and so reduce the amount of bubbles.

If you read the professional sites they warn about this in a round about way " leaves a nice key finish ready for filling and epoxy coating " shouldnt the surface be ready for AF Primer ? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[thefatlady]

I have completely removed the antifoul from three boats up to 34ft with acetone. I did it when I was dry berthing. Messy, but very effective. Leaves the gelcoat pristine.

This has been covered several times in the past on the forum.

 

[omega2]

Great pictures Drew, but were are those fish?? is this anti foul removal being done in the quest for speed? if so save your money and time. As already stated, unless you have a suspicion of hidden horrors under the present coating leave it alone, just jet wash and re coat.

 

[smileygirl]

I used an electric chisel from lidl. cost @ £15 and stripped 40 foot boat completely in 2 days easy

 

[Mrs Seagoon]

Wow! Great pics Drew. If only Neddie hadn't been working /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

(Last week tho' /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)

 

[morrisa]

Great pics, do you post on Flickr by any chance? I did the jet washing as well worked fine you can recoat with out primer.

 

[Kawasaki]

Drewstwos.
Please refrain from posting such good Piccies of the IOM , you tease.

As for Your antifoul.

I will come and chisel it all off this Winter.

Just pay Me Bar Bill in the 'Glue Pot' /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Mrs Seagoon]

Oh, so it's 'winter' now, is it? And I had my beer money ready last week......

You're the tease, if you ask me /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

 

[Kawasaki]

Well,
Be there before Winter.
Can,t bring Freebird out and scrub Her before then innit.
Drew seems to be 'enjoying' too much!

Keep that beer money safe.
IT WILL BE SPENT! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Mrs Seagoon]

Don't tell me you'll be coming over at the same time as Little Ship and MC..............

I don't have that much beer money! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif