Soda Blasting Her Bottom

[Maybe A Dancer]

Made the decision to soda blast the bottom.

Have 3 small blisters to repair as well - will use West System & Collodial Silica and fiberglass cloth (if needed) - no stranded mat and no micro-balloons.

Closer inspection showed numerous chips and adhesion problems on the bottom paint.

Lots of places where it will sooner or later flake off.

Appears last time this was done it was a poorly prepared bottom.

So, in the grand scheme of things, it's just another one of those ....while we're in there we may as well......

Next up is barrier coat

Photos below.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

Will they basically tent the boat to do that?

 

[Lazy Daze]

It looks like the original bottom paint's adhesion is good... it was a subsequent application that failed? But it also looks like that "2nd" application was quite a while ago - but kind of a moot point at this time, as well, I guess. Either way, it had a good, long run!

The best thing about repairing things underneath bottom paint is you just have to make it "close enough"!

Sounds like you're on top of everything. If you have stranded mat already laying around, I wouldn't hesitate to use that, though. But cloth, of course, is a fine choice.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

Will they basically tent the boat to do that?

yes

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

It looks like the original bottom paint's adhesion is good... it was a subsequent application that failed? But it also looks like that "2nd" application was quite a while ago - but kind of a moot point at this time, as well, I guess. Either way, it had a good, long run!

The best thing about repairing things underneath bottom paint is you just have to make it "close enough"!

Sounds like you're on top of everything. If you have stranded mat already laying around, I wouldn't hesitate to use that, though. But cloth, of course, is a fine choice.

Read some things about different stranded mat products having issues with the solubility of the strand "ends"

Also issues with micro balloons used to repair blisters.

While my 3 blisters are relatively small, 1" to 3" I'd like to get it done right and not have to deal with it again.

Taking no chances with a cored bottom.

BEST !

RWS

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

It looks like the original bottom paint's adhesion is good... it was a subsequent application that failed? But it also looks like that "2nd" application was quite a while ago - but kind of a moot point at this time, as well, I guess. Either way, it had a good, long run!

The best thing about repairing things underneath bottom paint is you just have to make it "close enough"!

Sounds like you're on top of everything. If you have stranded mat already laying around, I wouldn't hesitate to use that, though. But cloth, of course, is a fine choice.

The photos may be misleading.

Appears the problem likely goes back to the barrier coat.

PO bottom painted in California (have receipts) in 2019.

I did it again in January 2021, two years ago and there were a few spots, but no widespread, significant issues at that time.

Could be poor preparation last time it was done, or the difference in water temp or who knows.

Diver here comes monthly, as we have growth issues with the local waters.

I expect to own this boat for a very, very long time, so it makes sense to do this the right way now.

BEST !

RWS

 

[Lazy Daze]

I've been doing glass repair stuff for quite a while. I'm betting what you've been reading about is the "glue" that holds the strands together. Not all stranded mat is compatible with epoxy resin as the epoxy won't melt the "glue" away and you won't get full adhesion. Polyester resin will, though. However, you CAN get stranded mat that is epoxy-friendly.

I'm not saying this to sway you away from cloth, though.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The photos may be misleading.

Appears the problem likely goes back to the barrier coat.

PO bottom painted in California (have receipts) in 2019.

I did it again in January 2021, two years ago and there were a few spots, but no widespread, significant issues at that time.

Could be poor preparation last time it was done, or the difference in water temp or who knows.

Diver here comes monthly, as we have growth issues with the local waters.

I expect to own this boat for a very, very long time, so it makes sense to do this the right way now.

BEST !

RWS

The "problem" could be that it was done in California!

It's a big, labor intensive job - but you're right, it's more of an investment and sleep-soundly thing - and that makes it worthwhile right there.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

The small ones will likely not require cloth, don't know yet.

The yard is doing this job, and the bottom tech has been there for 20 years

Small marina. They know me well there. I always drop off Christmas Cheer for each of the yard employees, and dropped off 3 cases of beer after Hurricane Ian.

I also tip well - really well, and they know this.

I've learned the value of handing out $50 or $100 bills at the yard.

Seems like a lot, but the value of them going the extra mile makes the extra expense trivial.

BEST !

RWS

 

[Skuza]

I wouldn't blame necessarily the prep as much as I would 24 coats of touchup
It was time anyways.