Bottom paint removal

[1bayouboy]

Just tell me how to order to get that club discount....

[Islandtrader]

A gallon of Soy Strip should do a 23', maybe you'll need an extra quart. If you use SoyStrip, or most anything else for that matter, you don't want to "brush" on/in. Just lay it up on the hull, fairly thickly, and let it do its job. Don't be in a rush to take it off, let it work 4 to 12 hours; it takes longer to break down bottom paint than it takes to break down house paint!!!

I bought a gallon of this stuff. It works very good on the top coat paint. However it hardly budged the bottom paint.
I let it sit over night followed instructions. I am happy with the top coat removal.
For my time and effort I will take the boat to a boat yard and have them blast off the bottom for about $700. It is worth that much not to fart around with something that is an ugly job. The topside is OK since the stuff does wrinkle it and it is easy to wash off.

[Keyscruz]

The Soy Stripper did not do a very good job. First application was covered with wrap and left overnight. Some sections scraped almost clean but most did not. Second application was same and then pressure washed off. Little changed. It looks like I'll have to take the plunge and have it soda blasted. I will use the little I have left on varnish. I think it will be fine for that.

[Islandtrader]

Ditto that. Topside great...bottom no way

[capjohn]

Well Keys, my warm weathered friend, I do apologize for the performance of the Soy Stripper. In defense of the product (having been in the trenches with it for several years)I believe that you may have allowed it to remain on the surface unsupervised for too long and therefore it went 180 softening the paint (as you found in some areas) BUT then allowed the paint to return to its hardened state integrated with the (then likely) hardened Soy Stripper. I can relate and it is a bummer to return expecting to find "mush" and instead your looking for the # of Miami Soda Blasters ( btw I have their # if you need it).

Guys and girls and fellow Classic Seacraft owners, I started this business to bring solutions to nuisances that we all have had either no solution or only the use of really harsh chemicals would do, to our industry. The Soy Stripper has had many happy endings and far fewer unhappy. I only wish I could have have assisted you in getting the results you wanted. Honestly, if some of the paint scraped off to the gelcoat - why not all of it - right?

So....

At this point I am putting the "ball" in your court. I want to retain respect from you and your fellow Classic Sea Craft Club members. You tell me what you would like to me to do. Urgency is upon us as I am off to the "temperate zone" of SW & SE Florida Sunday morning for final testing of an absolute breakthrough in the restoration and preservation of even our most tired gelcoat. And I want to share this new chemistry with YOU ALL without a "black eye" from the Soy Stripper.

Please respond tonight or Saturday as my warehouse will be closed for inventory for the week-actually with the testing comes some sportfishing with the staff - great times and a good "January Thaw" for us yanks.

Standing by...

Captain John

[Islandtrader]

In this particular case I don't buy into your explanation of why it did not work.

FOR THE BOTTOM ONLY...I tried every time combination from one hour to 10 hours...and it did not budge the paint to my satisfaction.

TOP ONLY...left on over night covered (just like bottom) every thing was wrinkled and came off very easy.

I never had great expectations for the bottom. However I did not want to use ZIP STRIP on the top paint, so the SOY Strip was excellent for my purpose.

[Keyscruz]

I took my 18 to Miami Sodablasters. They were great! Since my boat had no motor or T-top it fit into their booth, so less set up time. The fee was most reasonable and the work was done quickly. Virtually all paint has been removed. Now the bottom needs only a light sanding. I strongly recomend these guys.

[bigeasy1]

Any more recommendations to get the bottom paint off? I tried a citrus remover with poor results,and gave the oven cleaner a shot,again with poor results.
I'm wondering if anyone knows of a soda blaster in the new england area?(western Ma.).
I may end up going that way,which is probably the best,but the cheap side of me wants to do it myself to save some green.

I was surfing the net today and found the following concoction that some guy came up with,I copied and pasted it below.
What do you think?
(I thought that oven cleaner was basically lye,yes?)


************************************************** *********
The easy way (but a little dangerous) -- Gloves and goggles are a
must. Also be warned that this works best in warm weather -- 60
degrees or better -- Warmer is better

Go to the $1 store and get 3 plastic buckets, some cheap paint
brushes, some plastic spatulas. And a plastic drop cloth.

Then go to the Supermarket and get some cornstarch and lye (NOT drain
cleaner, plain old lye)

Put the drop cloth under your boat

Fill 2 buckets 1/3 full of cool water

To 1 add 1 can (I think it comes in 14 OZ sizes) lye stirring
carefully with a stick -- the splashes will eat your clothing, and
burn your skin

To the other add about 1/2 box Cornstarch, again stirring well

Then slowly add the cornstarch mix to the lye mix while stirring --
stop when it gets to the consistency of pancake batter. Save any
remains for the next mix.

Slather it on the hull as thick as you can with one of the paint brushes

Go get coffee, or your beverage of choice -- come back in about 20 min

Scrape off the resulting glop with a plastic scraper (remember Gloves
and goggles) and put it in Bucket #3 for proper disposal

Repeat if necessary, but I removed about 20 years of paint from a 28'
boat this way in about 2 days -- usually 1 coat of glop is enough --
if it's cool, or doesn't seem to be working -- wait longer for the
bottom paint to soften.

When finished with a section, flush with a lot of water. If you get
any on yourself flush with water -- if you get any in your eyes -- get
medical attention.

Don't believe me -- try it on a small section first -- won't cost
much. I have wondered if someone could use Tyvex and stick it to the
glop as a poor mans peal-away system.
************************************************** **********

[Islandtrader]

What is your time worth? Removing bottom paint is the pits....I had my soda blasted off and it was worth every penny. If it takes these guys 3-4 hours, you might be there for the rest of your life.

[Seacraft84]

I second the soda blasting. Brought mine home afterwards and it took about three hours to get the rest of the paint offthe chines and the bottom slick so it could be faired out.