Bottom Paint Stripping

[JENDL SEAS]

Looking for advice on best product to strip bottom paint. Cost of soda blasting at my marina is absurd. Appreciate the help.

 

[bmac]

You should shop around. I got a price of $6,000 to strip, repair any blisters (up to $1,000 worth), 2 coats of barrier paint and 3 coats of Interlux ablative bottom paint. They're doing six other boats this spring, so I've had a chance to observe their work. I thought that was a reasonable price so I plan on doing it next winter.

 

[Kelskat]

I second the shop around suggestion. Soda blasting is the way to go to do it right. At least for me, I was a second owner and now have the piece of mind of what's underneath. I know there are many mobile outfits for soda blasting so make sure you ask around. I know some are willing to travel so maybe expand your search area.

 

[SCORPIO]

I used Peel Away on my last boat and NEVER AGAIN! Talk about a mess! It took 10 gallons on a 26' boat and I still had to solvent wash the bottom, sand and then barrier coat and bottom paint. It would have been cheaper and a lot faster to have it soda blasted.
Unless you want to just sand it all off, another mess, I don't see a real cheap way to do this job. What are they quoting for the job?

 

[wingatesl]

You should shop around. I got a price of $6,000 to strip, repair any blisters (up to $1,000 worth), 2 coats of barrier paint and 3 coats of Interlux ablative bottom paint. They're doing six other boats this spring, so I've had a chance to observe their work. I thought that was a reasonable price so I plan on doing it next winter.

There is a guy wintered in a few down from us that got a quote for mid 5k. As I see it, that really is not a bad price. We are on our 3rd touch up season and thankful that we did not have to do the full job this year. Sanding the loose spots, 3 coats on the exposed barrier coat, and painting was 3 days. That was for just a touch up. Not to mention the mess! Put 2 ugly coats over it this year and commit to just paying someone else in the spring. Your time is worth something as well.