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Author Topic:   Bottom Paint Dilemma

Jkcam posted 06-06-2012 12:44 PM ET (US)
My (new to me)1989 15 Striper came down to Florida via Tennessee. At some point, and somewhere, someone decided that it needed bottom paint. The interesting thing about the bottom paint scheme is that it is just on the bottom, the vertical sections of the sides and stern are free from any indication that they were ever painted. In many areas the bottom paint is completely or partially gone, and the gel-coat underneath is shinny, indicating to me that there was no prep. In other areas it is holding on for dear life and has withstood a 3000 psi power wash. It is a dark brownish/black. If one looks at the boat from the side, or stern, either on my lift or on the trailer, they could easily not even know it was ever painted. The bow, down in the area of the bow locker drain is patchy.
I fit right in with this crowd because I'm not real happy with the way it looks. Bare in mind, the boat otherwise looks great with shinny original gel-coat inside and out.
I tried a little citrus stripper and it left a brownish residue that is not much better than the patchy paint. I tried the pressure wash and some more came off, but not consistent.
I am not going to strip out the boat, flip it, sand it, and re gel-coat the bottom. Don't have a place to do it and I won't pay someone big bucks for an aesthetic improvement.
So, input needed. Do I, No. 1. Forget about it, use the great boat, it's like the scars I've picked up over the years myself?
2. Paint it, so that it looks better cared for, although painted. In spite of the fact that I keep it on a lift?
3. Try, Soy stripper, soda blasting, walnut blasting, or some other method that I don't know about?
macfam posted 06-06-2012 01:18 PM ET (US)
The next action I would take is to use Franmar Soy Strip. If at all possible, apply generously, and then pat on some type of light plastic sheeting(cheap drop cloths, opened rubbish bags etc) and tape into place to prevent the Soy gel from drying out. Let it stand over-night, and then powerwash.
Not expensive, not that time consuming. Franmar Soy Strip gel works pretty darn well.
Tom Hemphill posted 06-06-2012 05:54 PM ET (US)
I recommend Franmar Soy Strip also. After allowing it to dwell, I use a paint scraper to remove the heavy glop and capture it for disposal with newspaper. A followup with the same company's Emerge degreaser and a nylon scrubbie pad is pretty effective, then I finish with a power washer.
This work can be done in stages and at your leisure, and as you point out, it's to correct a minor aesthetic complaint, so what's to loose?
Jkcam posted 06-08-2012 06:55 PM ET (US)
Thanks gents for your suggestions. I won the bottom paint lottery today!!
After about a 2 hr. cruise, I put my 15 back on the lift, raised it about 1' out of the water and jumped in armed with a scrubbie pad. It's the kind with a handle like a brush. UNBELIEVABLE!! The paint came right off with a little elbow grease and splashing sea water. I was able to get a most all of the paint off, and all of the paint that one could see unless your are lying under the boat. I now know I can remove it all with just a little more work.
My purchase of the 15 continues to get better and better.
Jefecinco posted 06-08-2012 07:35 PM ET (US)
It sounds like the paint was applied to a surface with no preparation. You'll want to scuff up the bottom if you plan to paint it.
Since you use a lift I recommend you leave the bottom bare for a while and see how you like it. You shouldn't need antifouling paint unless you are going to wet store the boat for four days or longer.
Butch
Tom W Clark posted 06-09-2012 11:08 AM ET (US)
Yes, it scrubs right off because it is a "soft" ablative bottom paint.
By scrubbing it off while the boat is over the water you have dumped a concentration of highly toxic bottom paint particles into the water. Not only it that very uncool, it is quite illegal in many states including Washington.
Jkcam posted 06-09-2012 02:19 PM ET (US)
Tom, point well taken.
The balance of the paint, which covers the bottom will be captured after I put the boat back on the trailer. When it was previously on the trailer I did dispose of the attempted citrus striper effort properly, and the pressure washer effort was useless. Fortunately, whomever originally painted the bottom did not paint any portion of the stern or the vertical sides of the hull.
My success with the scrubby pad was complete but only in a small area near where a trailer roller had left some black streaks. After it goes back on the trailer, I will have the yard complete the job.

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Author	Topic: Bottom Paint Dilemma
Jkcam	posted 06-06-2012 12:44 PM ET (US) My (new to me)1989 15 Striper came down to Florida via Tennessee. At some point, and somewhere, someone decided that it needed bottom paint. The interesting thing about the bottom paint scheme is that it is just on the bottom, the vertical sections of the sides and stern are free from any indication that they were ever painted. In many areas the bottom paint is completely or partially gone, and the gel-coat underneath is shinny, indicating to me that there was no prep. In other areas it is holding on for dear life and has withstood a 3000 psi power wash. It is a dark brownish/black. If one looks at the boat from the side, or stern, either on my lift or on the trailer, they could easily not even know it was ever painted. The bow, down in the area of the bow locker drain is patchy. I fit right in with this crowd because I'm not real happy with the way it looks. Bare in mind, the boat otherwise looks great with shinny original gel-coat inside and out. I tried a little citrus stripper and it left a brownish residue that is not much better than the patchy paint. I tried the pressure wash and some more came off, but not consistent. I am not going to strip out the boat, flip it, sand it, and re gel-coat the bottom. Don't have a place to do it and I won't pay someone big bucks for an aesthetic improvement. So, input needed. Do I, No. 1. Forget about it, use the great boat, it's like the scars I've picked up over the years myself? 2. Paint it, so that it looks better cared for, although painted. In spite of the fact that I keep it on a lift? 3. Try, Soy stripper, soda blasting, walnut blasting, or some other method that I don't know about?
macfam	posted 06-06-2012 01:18 PM ET (US) The next action I would take is to use Franmar Soy Strip. If at all possible, apply generously, and then pat on some type of light plastic sheeting(cheap drop cloths, opened rubbish bags etc) and tape into place to prevent the Soy gel from drying out. Let it stand over-night, and then powerwash. Not expensive, not that time consuming. Franmar Soy Strip gel works pretty darn well.
Tom Hemphill	posted 06-06-2012 05:54 PM ET (US) I recommend Franmar Soy Strip also. After allowing it to dwell, I use a paint scraper to remove the heavy glop and capture it for disposal with newspaper. A followup with the same company's Emerge degreaser and a nylon scrubbie pad is pretty effective, then I finish with a power washer. This work can be done in stages and at your leisure, and as you point out, it's to correct a minor aesthetic complaint, so what's to loose?
Jkcam	posted 06-08-2012 06:55 PM ET (US) Thanks gents for your suggestions. I won the bottom paint lottery today!! After about a 2 hr. cruise, I put my 15 back on the lift, raised it about 1' out of the water and jumped in armed with a scrubbie pad. It's the kind with a handle like a brush. UNBELIEVABLE!! The paint came right off with a little elbow grease and splashing sea water. I was able to get a most all of the paint off, and all of the paint that one could see unless your are lying under the boat. I now know I can remove it all with just a little more work. My purchase of the 15 continues to get better and better.
Jefecinco	posted 06-08-2012 07:35 PM ET (US) It sounds like the paint was applied to a surface with no preparation. You'll want to scuff up the bottom if you plan to paint it. Since you use a lift I recommend you leave the bottom bare for a while and see how you like it. You shouldn't need antifouling paint unless you are going to wet store the boat for four days or longer. Butch
Tom W Clark	posted 06-09-2012 11:08 AM ET (US) Yes, it scrubs right off because it is a "soft" ablative bottom paint. By scrubbing it off while the boat is over the water you have dumped a concentration of highly toxic bottom paint particles into the water. Not only it that very uncool, it is quite illegal in many states including Washington.
Jkcam	posted 06-09-2012 02:19 PM ET (US) Tom, point well taken. The balance of the paint, which covers the bottom will be captured after I put the boat back on the trailer. When it was previously on the trailer I did dispose of the attempted citrus striper effort properly, and the pressure washer effort was useless. Fortunately, whomever originally painted the bottom did not paint any portion of the stern or the vertical sides of the hull. My success with the scrubby pad was complete but only in a small area near where a trailer roller had left some black streaks. After it goes back on the trailer, I will have the yard complete the job.