Boat was automotive clear-coated, advice on removing

[joeinbend]

Hi all,
I have an '88 268 Sundancer, we bought last summer. At some point in its' life, someone put an automotive (urethane presumably) clearcoat over the whole exterior from the rub rail up. I'm sure at the time this looked great, but several years later, it is flaking off in post-it note sized flakes, and overall is severely oxidized.

I have some experience with bodywork, fiberglass and gelcoat, and to my knowledge, it would never be a good idea to clear over a gelcoat. It seems to me that this was done as a quick fix to make the boat shine, but that what really should have been done is a high quality elbow-grease-powered wet sand and polish of the gelcoat to bring back the shine. Agree, disagree?

As far as removing the clearcoat, since it is literally falling off now, it shouldn't take a lot to remove it completely. I'm trying to figure weather I should use something like a commercial paint stripper to get it all off (suggestions please?), or just go with a 3M rubbing compound on a large buffing wheel?

Once the clearcoat is removed, I was intending on doing the whole boat in 3 steps on a buffing wheel: 3M Rubbing Compound, 3M Glazing Compound, then a good marine wax (suggestions please?).

I am open to opinions for my plan; I'm sure there are lots of folks out there who have found themselves in similar situations.

Thanks!

 

[wish2fish]

are you sure its is not vertglass or equivalent?

vertglass

 

[Oldsman]

In no way use paint stripper. You will find that it will eat the gelcoat. Trust me been there and done that many years ago.

 

[joeinbend]

Wish,
I'm not 100% sure that is is clear coat, however the fact that it is flaking off, and the material coming off is consistent with my experience of a urethane clear coat, I believe that to be the case. Either way, it seems to me that the best solution is to remove that product, whatever it may be, and get down to just a properly polished, buffed and waxed gelcoat. Would you agree with that?

Oldsman,
Thanks for the response regarding using paint stripper. I had heard that there are strippers designed to remove paint without harming gelcoat, but I would much rather not risk it, so I'll remove the clear coat manually. Thanks!

 

[Oldsman]

I would scrape off what you could and sand what is stuck on. Then wet sand the whole topside. When I wet sand I start with 320,500,800 1500. I find that it works very well and you get bigger arms to boot. I then use this: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP80821219.htm?bct=%3Bciboat-care%3Bcimaintenance-boat%3Bcicleaning%3Bciwax-polish-compound

I used this method and have a high shine that lasts.

 

[joeinbend]

That sounds good, thanks Oldsman. I've always been a fan of 3M's polishing products, so I like that they have a solution for this. I probably wont be tackling this job for another few weeks, I'll report back with my results (and pictures!)

 

[Dave S]

It is more than likely something like Vertglas or Poli-Glow. I seriously doubt anyone would clear coat the top deck. Likely it was severely oxidized and these polymer products are an easy way to get the shine back without having to wet sand, compound, and polish. Both of these companies supply a product to remove the old coatings. Here is the Vertglas manual you can look at to see how the product is applied and how it can be removed. http://www.lovettmarine.com/media/GuideManual.pdf You may want to do a search to find similar information on Poli-Glow but I would imagine the removal process is going to be the same. I also know that rubbing alcohol will remove regular polymer polishes. Why not try that to see if it will remove the hard coating as well.

Dave

 

[joeinbend]

Thanks Dave, I hope it is something like that rather than urethane clear coat. I will try rubbing alcohol in an inconspicuous spot and see how that works.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Amonia or floor wax stripper will remove poly-glow also.

 

[SCORPIO]

Acetone will also remove the acrylic polymer coatings. I doubt its urethane.

 

[1956olds]

If it is coming off in stickynote size pieces use a powerwasher first,try a good blowgun with 90-150 psi pressure also,please wear saftey glasses.We get cars in the shop that have been butchered in a alley or home garage sometimes and the sanding process used was scotch brite pads,sounds about the same ,some can be stripped in minuets this way.

 

[OldSkool]

Maybe I can send you some corn squeeze'ns I mentioned in another thread. Got to be careful though it is extremely flammable. May dull the gel coat a bit but if your sipping while you work you won't care.....:smt101:smt101

 

[rusobr2]

hey joe --i'm in prineville--i had my own bodyshop up till last nov. just do a little work at home now--if you need some help or whatever get back to me i'm in bend about once a week--pm--me ,and i'll send you my num.

steven