Removing the painted bottom on my boat?

Question

I recently bought a used fiberglass boat (model yr. 2004) and the previous owner had painted the bottom with a lead base paint. Anyone know how to remove it and restore it back to its original white fiberglass surface?

thanks......

Answer 1

Fiber glass is a gel coat so theres no paint on it...so u could use a liquid paint stripper...good luck with that!

Answer 2

First I have a question or 2 for you.  How do you plan on using this boat?  Are you trailering it or keeping it in the water?  Are you on fresh or salt water?  I'm asking b/c sometimes you'll need an antifouling bottom paint.  By the way, its probably not "lead" paint anyway, who uses lead paint for the bottom of a boat - this isn't the 60's.  I'm willing to bet that they used "bottom paint" of some form which is antifouling paint, and some are called ablative paint, which sloughs off over time to leave a fresh layer.  Either way, they do contain some powerful chemicals, but the good ones use a copper additive, and it's possible there's a trace amount of lead, but that's about it.

Anyway, if I HAD to strip this paint - that's what you do, you strip it!  You buy paint stripper, I like the gel kind, and you'll have to apply the stripper just like paint, roll it and brush edges, then let it sit and do some work, then scrape away.  You may need to sand some tough areas, etc.

I would leave the paint, srape away any peeling spots, and apply a new fresh bottom paint.  If you're in the salt water or storing in a boat slip, you need to have some kind of bottom paint or you'll grow some serious crud underneath.

Answer 3

Easyer said then done if the person who painted it sanded it how they should then it wouldn't be worth the time or money to do you would have to sand off the bottom paint and then to bring   it back you would have to apply new jell-coat  

The best way to go is to paint the bottom with a slick finish marine bottom paint or to paint it with a urethane base automotive paint

Answer 4

Having had to do the same myself and exhausted all of the research of the easy ways of doing this this there is only one way which is as follows.....

A good scraper, plenty of "elbow grease" and take your time..

Unfortunately the best way is the hard way

Answer 5

If you leave it in water, the bottom paint is a must if you take the boat out of the water after use, then I would sand blast the bottom coat off.  This will give you even surface removal.  then you will need to re gel coat the bottom.  this will be coastly unless you can do it yourself.

Answer 6

I'm actually doing this right now with an old boat.

80 Grit sand paper will sand the boat down enough. Just attach the 80 grit paper to an electric sander and have at it. You should get most of the paint off with that. Wash it down real good, if you have a pressure cleaner even better...make sure you get all the dust from the sanding off, and there are no paint chips anywhere on the boat.

I went to West Marine and bought a gallon of West Marine Fiberglass bottom paint. I found that 1 gallon is more than enough for my 16 foot boat. Give it 2 coats of paint. Let it dry for 3-5 hours between coats...then after the last coat wait 12 hours before putting the boat in the water.

Also the paint is VERY expensive...1 gallon of store brand West Marine paint was $100...i got it half price because someone returned it (they didnt like the color)...so check if they have anything like that so you can get a better price.

Good Luck.