How To Remove Paint From Aluminum Boat

How_To_Remove_Paint_From_Aluminum_Boat

At some point in your boat’s lifetime, you may want to paint the boat. In most instances, the ideal way of achieving a decent finish is to put in some prep work and get rid of the old and probably flaky topcoat. If you purchased your pontoon boat in perfect paint condition, there is a chance this is the first time you are thinking of removing paint from the aluminum boat.

If you are not familiar with how to remove paint from the aluminum boat, the whole paint stripping job can be tough. It could end up being messy, expensive, hazardous, and even depressing.

To make sure that removing paint from an aluminum boat doesn’t turn into any of these things, we will show you how to remove paint from the aluminum boat. Irrespective of the type of boat you own, this guide should work for you.

Methods of Removing Paint From Aluminum Boat

As you have probably already guessed, there is more than one way of removing boat deck paint. Although this article will focus on showing you how to remove paint from an aluminum boat using the best method, we thought that naming other methods of paint stripping would be a good idea. If you do not own an inflatable boat, the following methods of removing paint from the aluminum boat may be ideal for you:

  • Sanders – These generally remove paint from a surface in 2 ways. The sander movement helps remove the loose paint. The abrasive part of the sanding attachment or the sandpaper will scrape away the remaining paint.
  • Shot blasting – This involves the use of a shot blasting machine to propel an abrasive to your aluminum boat surface. This removes the paint and other impurities from the surface.
  • Mechanical scrapers – Just like the name suggests, this method of removing paint from the aluminum boat will involve a lot of mechanical work. You may have to use a combination of blunt and sharp tools to remove loose and the less loose paint respectively.
  • Heat guns – Heat guns provide intense and direct heat on the surface you intend to strip without producing an open flame. This makes stripping the surface less complicated and easier.
  • Chemical strippers [best option] – Chemical strippers are known to offer the best results when removing paint from the aluminum boat. After applying the chemical stripper on the surface of the paint, the chemical stripper reacts with the paint and makes the paint removal much easier.

How to Remove Paint from Aluminum Boat Using a Chemical Stripper

As we had mentioned earlier, our goal is to make removing paint from aluminum boats easy. For this reason, we will focus on showing you how to remove paint from an aluminum boat using the most effective method – the chemical stripper. If the next time you are grabbing your marine binoculars and boat shoes you would like your boat to have a fresh layer of paint, let’s get started with removing paint from the aluminum boat.

1. Get the Necessary Tools

Step_1_Get_the_Necessary_Tools

1. Chemical Stripper

The first thing you will need is the chemical stripper. To make your work much easier, you will need to invest in a high-quality chemical stripper.

If you will be purchasing the paint stripper online, checking the reviews written by people who have already used the chemical stripper can make things easier for you when making a decision. If you are buying the chemical stripper from a local store, consult experts. The extra dollars you spend on a high-quality chemical stripper could make your work a lot easier.

2. Scraper

Some parts of the powerboat may feature flaky paint. Instead of wasting the chemical stripper on these parts of the sailboat, you can use the standard paint scraper to remove the flaky paint.

3. Safety Equipment

You shouldn’t just observe safety when boating. Even when removing paint from the aluminum boat, safety is crucial. The stripper could feature chemicals capable of harming your eyes and the respiratory system.

The next time you are on your boat seat exploring the waters, you would want to have a fully functional respiratory system and eyes. For this reason, you should spend a couple of dollars on a respirator and a pair of goggles. When working with a chemical stripper, a safety requirement you should not ignore is working in a properly ventilated room. If possible, work outside.

When handling chemicals, ensuring that your hands are protected is important. Sailing gloves may not offer the necessary protection against the chemical stripper. Hence, you may have to invest in a pair of rubber gloves.

2. Put on Your Safety Equipment

Before you start removing paint from the aluminum boat, make sure you have put on the safety equipment mentioned above. You must make this a priority to avoid forgetting.

3. Remove the Flaky Paint with the Scraper

If you look at the top paint layer, you will probably notice that it can be removed manually using a scraper. Instead of wasting a ton of your probably expensive chemical stripper, grab your scraper and get rid of the flaky paint.

The majority of chemical strippers in the market are not very friendly to the environment. Hence, you should aim at using as little chemical stripper as you possibly can.

A slightly sharp scraper can make your job much easier. While the mechanical scrapping could take a while, the time you spend on the activity is worth it.

4. Apply the Chemical Stripper

It is worth noting that the application technic you use will be highly dependent on the type of chemical stripper you invest in. For this reason, you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations.

Before opening the stripper, shake the can thoroughly. This will mix the chemical stripper contents. Next, you will have to pour the chemical stripper into a shallow pan. To strip the paint, you will need to apply a coat of the paint stripper on the surface using a thick brush. You may need to leave the surface for approximately 20 minutes (in some instances, you may have to wait longer) for the paint remover to do its job.

A major disadvantage of the majority of chemical strippers is that on hot days, the gel usually dries too quickly and hence, losing its effectiveness. This suggests that using a chemical stripper during the summer may not be a very good idea.

However, if waiting for a couple of months to remove the paint is not an option, there is a workaround you can use. You can use a film or sheet to lock the moisture in. This will act as a barrier that keeps the gel from drying.

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5. Scrap Off the Paint

This part of learning how to remove paint from the aluminum boat is the most satisfying. All you will need to do is focus on scrapping off using your standard wallpaper scraper. A blade won’t be necessary for this step. You will just need something featuring a straight edge to remove the paint goop from your aluminum boat.

As noted earlier on, chemical strippers are not generally what one might call friendly to the environment. Therefore, you should take any necessary precautions to reduce the amount of stripper that makes its way to your environment. If you decide to use a rag to mop up the paint bits, ensure the rag is disposed of properly.

6. Finishing Off

After using the chemical stripper to remove the paint, chances are, you will still notice some scrape marks from the paint you were removing. These shouldn’t worry you though. They should be easy to remove using grit flip discs.

You can first go through the hull using 100 grit flip discs, followed by 150, and finally the 220 grit flip discs. Finally, you can give the hull an acid wash to brighten both its tone and the hull.

Globo Surf Overview

Removing paint from an aluminum boat can be complicated for someone who does not know how to remove paint from the aluminum boat. There are numerous methods of removing paint from the aluminum boat. However, if you are looking for a method that can make your work much easier, you should consider using a chemical stripper.

Generally, the chemical stripper may not complete the whole paint removal process on its own. In most cases, aluminum boat owners have to use a combination of the chemical stripper and a scraper.

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Source

  1. Removing Paint From Aluminum Hull