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Jim
 
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Default Wanting to remove bottom paint, need advise

I found the procedure, and will reply to myself

DO NOT pressure wash the bottom. Bottom paint contains nasty stuff
(arsenic, Lead, copper, maybe mercury and other such stuff you don't
want to drink) If the feds or most states catch you it means big fines.
Likewise sanding -- you sure don't want to breath that stuff.

Follows is a procedure that will work; a little labor intensive, and
slightly dangerous, but with proper precautions will work just fine.

You need
3 buckets (Local $1 store)

maybe 3 cans of household Lye (read devil or similar) from the
cleaning dept. of your local supermarket. DO NOT use drain cleaner

2-3 boxes of cornstarch (local supermarket)

Gloves goggles, plastic scrapers. plastic drop cloth. old or disposable
paintbrush

Fill 2 buckets 1/2 way full of COLD water

Put on the gloves goggles, long sleeve shirt, long pants (old, ugly,
about to be trashed)

To Bucket #1 add 1 can of lye stir enthusiastically
to bucket # 2 add about 1/2 box of cornstarch -- stir even more
enthusiastically

Add the contents of bucket 2 to bucket 1 whilst stirring. Stop adding
when the mix is about the consistency of pancake batter.

Put the drop cloth under the boat

Slather the glop in bucket #1 on as thick as you can while wearing
gloves & goggles (This stuff eats skin)

Go get a cup of coffee

Come back about 20 minutes later and use the scraper to remove the
softened paint. Put it in Bucket #3 for proper disposal (call your
local hazardous waste facility for their version of proper disposal)

Repeat as necessary to get all the paint off

Roll up the tarp and drips for proper disposal.

THEN pressure wash to remove the remover

Jim wrote:
Check the archives for my do it yourself chemical striper -- nasty to
deal with but works well, and leaves the fiberglas smooth as new

CaptMP wrote:

Tampa Mike sez "......would like to remove the antifouling paint (its
starting
to look bad) and return it to the white fiberglass.......

Mike, When I had mine painted for the first time (brand new boat) the
yard did
some AGRESSIVE sanding/prep to provide a "tooth" for the barrier and
subsequent
coats of paint. You may well find you'll never have the glossy gel
coat finish
you had when new! But please let us know how it works out, as my boat
is back
on the trailer after 1 1/2 years in the bay, and I suppose I should do
something to improve the looks of the boat before my neighbors "talk"
to me!
Best wishes
Mike
BTW...I lived in Tampa for a while then moved to Treasure Island (off
St. Pete
Beach) before going to 'Nam in '66. How is the availiblity of water
front
property w/docks? Or has the Manatee issue stopped that?