Bottom paint removal?

[CHANCE1234]

I have at least 3 different colors on the bottom. I'm sure it has never been removed in its 40 years so lucky me... Like I said there are 3 colors and for sure multiple coats of the black. The below picture is one hour worth of work with a scrapper on the easiest most vertical portion of the boat. The rest will have to be done on my back. Unless someone has a better idea besides blasting (don't have a ton of money budgeted for this but I do have plenty of time over the northeast winter). I assume pressure washing won't get it done? My next attempt will be with an orbital sander and the coarsest grit paper I can find. Any other ideas?

[Terry England]

Try Easy Off oven cleaner. It takes a lot of work out of it.

[CHANCE1234]

Thanks terry, I just did a search on here and found that too. I'll get a can and try a spot. Thanks

[Chaser]

Use a chemical stripper like "Tough to Strip" available at most hardware stores. Get the bottom nice and wet with water, so the paint is wet through, and apply the stripper with a throw away brush, as thick as you can get it to stay on. Wait 4-6 hours, scrape with a sharp scraper. That will take off a lot of it. If there is still a substantial amount of paint remaining, repeat the process. Do this until you are down to mostly gelcoat. Then clean THOROUGHLY with fresh water, scrubbing with soap, let dry, sand the gelcoat and remaining paint to prep for the new stuff, and apply your new paint. Best option for removing lots of old layers of paint. Stripper works better when its warmer. Easier than sanding it all off.

[beastley]

I'm in the same boat. Does the Easy Off act as a.paint stripper? I've tried several of those and non seem to really work. not looking forward to removing the bottom paint.

[Seacraft84]

Easy off works great but you will go broke buying enough to do the whole bottom.
Make sure to wear long sleeves and plates long gloves. The stuff flies around some and will burn your skin.
We borrowed a friends farrow system and blasted our 23.
I'd say bite the bullet and get it blasted. This took us about 2.5 hours.
We are going back with finish topcoat. No more bottom paint.

[flyingfrizzle]

I have been doing my 20' and it has not been fun at all. Did tilt the boat on its side to help but still not easy at all. Soda blasting sounds like a winner. I have one side coated with 3 coats of 2000e and ready to tilt it to do the same to the other side now.

[Rufneck]

I found that the Ace Hardware paint remover was the strongest paint remover I could find. It is also less expensive than other brands. It has the consistency of a gel. You put it on, let it sit for 30 minutes or so and then take a paint scraper to peel it off. After that, you will need to take a paint thinner to wipe off the residual.

[Old'sCool]

Back in the cars days I used "Aircraft Strip". It was a gel that rocked!

[tautog_33]

Did the same thing last winter, I had multiple coats also. I scraped all the loose layers then used a orbital sander. Placed the boat on stands took me around 18 hrs to remove paint. Next time I will pay to get it removed.