Stripping
Ok just painting type stuff....I've been a stripper for a long time well I guess about 43 years. Boot camp taught me to strip wax off of floors and my boots. I've used spit, compound, sweat, rocks, abrasive materials, sand blasted, and chemicals. In the SeaBee’s we had to sandblast the inside of a water tower the Marines painted with lead base paint during the summer on Isla de Vieques in Puerto Rico the place where sailing captured my soul. I ended up in the brig for a few hours on that dang base…but payback you know the saying. I’ve also done more show cars then I can count. Ok back on track I’m drifting. Anyway you get my drift been there and I have a few Tee shirts.

So here is my take on stripping Paint off of a fiberglass boat. First rule never paint a boat. Second Rule: Gel coat (poly) on poly never on epoxy or paint. So you have to know what you are starting with to decide on your topcoat finish. A general rule paint does not flex like gel coat. White gel coat is about $45 a gallon the prep is about the same as automotive paint and takes some finish work after it is applied depending on your prep and spraying job. Gel coat can be repaired easily, is flexible and forgiving it can be spot patched if you mess up a spot or catch debris like dust or a bug when spraying. Gel coat can be rolled or brushed but the results are not as nice as when you spray. The surface must be faired out so when you sand out the gel coat after it is sprayed with fine grit sandpaper to shine it up you do not sand through it on the high spots.

I’m not saying don't use paint if that is what you want or need to use because of epoxy base layup. I’ve had very good luck with Awlgrip paint the prep is important as with all systems; the paint is very toxic and expensive. The automotive paint I used was high quality and lasted 5 years. Patching paint is difficult and repainting is often as much prep if not more than gel coat. As with all surface coats the prep work is the most import part and that is we are beginning. In my case ALL PAINT must be removed. All spider cracks must be fixed and repairs as needed completed and cured.

Let the stripping begin. My surface is a clear coat / base coat paint, faring primer, etching primer, old gel coat, and factory gelcoat. The stripper will eat some plastics, skin, gel coat if applied long enough, filler, and safe to assume anything you don’t want it to. I use to wear layers of protective clothing when I started using this stuff but now I don’t. I’ve had globs hit my kakis soak in and burn me before I knew what hit me. By the time you realize what’s up you have a burn. So I wear shorts and T-****s plus with the Florida heat less is better. I have a hose ready to spray off if I feel a hit of gel. The stuff is water soluble. Decide what is best for you. I use to pour small amounts (about a cup) into glass jars. I found plastic handled pour cups at Harbor Freight for a little over a dollar that hold up to the chemicals and even have a built in bush handle. I buy a box of disposable brushes they can be used also for all sorts of stuff including stripping and glass work, a box of 36 is less than $10. I usually use a new bush each application seems to work better. If you want to reuse a brush rinse it out and let it dry. The scissors in the photo are the best I’ve found and cost around a $1-$2 at Harbor Freight. I can cut carbon fiber all day and they are still sharp. I always get a hand full of them when I’m there.

The stripping gel is applied with short one way brush strokes do not brush back and forth. Its best if not in direct sunlight read the directions on the can… let it sit 10 – 20 minutes don’t let it dry on the surface. I use a metal paint scraper with a plastic handle - with a file I put a bit of sharp edge on the blade. Watch your angle so you do not gouge the surface. Scrape what is soft and curled take what it gives you. I found that about 3 coats of paint bubble up. I wash it down with plain water then apply another coat after the water has dried. After that the gel coat starts to get soft and gouges so I sand the rest with 100 grit paper on a DA sander. Adding more stripper does not seem to yield that much and cost about $45 a gallon so in my estimate you reached the point of diminishing returns at some point and could start lifting off the gel coat. Once you start using it you can tell how it works best for your application. Always hose it down with water after you scrape to stop the chemical reaction. Then hose yourself down because the paint particles will have a small amount of gel on them. Work in a well ventilated area and use fans and/or respirators.


Mike Shappell
www.themanshed.com
TMS-20 Builder
G-Cat 5.7 - Current Boat
NACRA 5.2 - early 70's