Treadmaster

[SailingDoc]

On my boat there are several acres of treadmaster , esp. on the wheelhouse roof; being now 25 years old, lots of it has become brittle, crumbles away in patches and looks awful.
I've tried removing some of it - I want to replace it; but much of it is glued very firmly and even with judicious use of a chisel I cannot get much of it up, along with the thickish layer of adhesive.
Any ideas? Would anything dissolve the adhesive, without damaging the gelcoat?

Brian

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

Unfortunately not and the epoxide adhesive used is harder than the gelcoat on boats.

If you can borrow one of the electric "peelers" (essentially a rotary plane) they use for stripping off gelcoat it's probably the best tool for the job, failing that a chisel carefully used, followed up by an orbital sander.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[SailingDoc]

Hmmm.... I thought that might be the situation. I've tried with a chisel in one corner - it would takes weeks/months/years to to, besides blunting the chisel with monotonous regularity.
I had wondered about a suitable power-tool - I have a B&D Plane which might do; then an orbital sander. I guess it won't matter doing slight superficial cosmetic damage to the gelcoat, after all one is only going to cover it all up with new adhesive & treadmaster.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ccscott49]

You can also try a heatgun, epoxy wont stand heat, it softens and destroys it'self, then you can scrape/chisel/peel it off. Peeling it off with a power plane sounds a good idea aswell, but be very careful, please!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[uforea]

I had the same job to do on my boat but this was all of the side decks etc. The task seemed daunting at first but you soon adapt and learn the best way of doing things. I found the easiest way was with a Bosch electric chisel followed by an orbital sander. I also found that the best adhesive to use was the epoxy type which allows plenty of time to place the new sheet in exactly the right position. The contact adhesives do not allow this, once down it stays there right or wrong.!!!

Good luck.
Ted.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

Unfortunately, at the time that was put on James Walker were using an epoxide glue (not epoxy has an additional covalent O) which is unaffected by heat, is nearly as hard as rock.

They are now using a simple epoxy, which will probably soften with heat (unfortunately rather close to the ignition temperature of polyester resin).

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ccscott49]

Ah! Handy to know that! I don't have any treadmaster, prefering natures equivalent, but it will stop me advising people!! The power stripper thingy sounds a good idea though.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[LadyInBed]

The B&D Plane and orbital sander will probably take off the Treadmaster, but I think it will block up the plane blades when you try and tackle the epoxy.
Do you need to go down any further?
How would it affect the finished result if it stood a few mm higher?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[vyv_cox]

As others say, mechanical means are almost the only option. I did the whole deck of a GK29 and it took me a complete winter but that was with hand tools exclusively. Some of the modern vibratory chisels seem to work well and I watched someone removing Treadmaster from a steel deck using one, seemed to be a relatively quick job. Alternatively, I suspect that you could destroy most of the material above the adhesive with hand tools without too much effort and then use a good orbital sander to take the glue down to the gel coat. As you say, the finish isn't important.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AndrewB]

I used very coarse emery (40 grade) on a circular sander, which cut through reasonably quickly though messily with a disgusting smell of burnt Treadmaster and glue. I'd only recommend this if you are not concerned about scoring the surface of the gelcoat underneath.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[SailingDoc]

Many thanks to all, for the comments and suggestions. I think I shall have to try a few methods and see which is best in terms of elbow-grease, smell, dust (and whose boat happens to be downwind at the time!), blunted tools, stamina, and enthusiasm for the job. Next thing is to go on hands & knees to Bank Manager to buy in the necessary acres of new Treadmaster.....wish me luck!


<hr width=100% size=1>