Projects from Gale Force Blasting

This 36′ Yellowfin was painted with Pettit Vivid white ablative, but there was a problem with the adhesion of the first coat. The pictures show the paint lifting from the gel coat. It looked as if there was a attempt to de-wax the hull prior to the initial paint, but the wax may have just been spread due to continual use of dirty rags.(in the 4th pic you can see the evidence) The hull was blasted leaving a etched surface ready for new paint without damage to the gel coat.

This boat had a problem with the first application of paint to a new hull. The pictures below show large sections of paint that released from the hull. The most likely cause was the presence of mold release wax that was not removed prior to the first coat of paint. I stripped the paint leaving a profile that would promote the adhesion of a barrier coat(Interprotect-2000) and fresh Interlux Micron ablative paint. Click on the pics for a better view.

This 53′ 1990 Irving Forbes was in need of a bottom job. The top sides were painted the previous year and the old bottom paint created a rough running surface. The boat was glassed over wood and there were some areas that needed attention due to previous spot repairs that had glass/fairing extending over old antifoul paint. The hull was blasted over the course of 3 days exposing the areas in need of repair, and moisture in the hull was clearly visible and marked. When blasting the hull with a dry media, the dust created sticks to the moist areas of the hull like cake batter. The most common problem areas on the glass over wood boats is the keel in the areas where the boat was blocked.

29-foot Talaria “Runabout”

This Boat had a coatings failure. It was stripped, one coat of Interlux 2000 was applied as a primer,  then two coats of Interlux ablative antifoul were rolled onto the hull. All the work was done in a heated work shed/paint booth in order to make sure the paint application temperatures were correct to prevent further problems.  The pictures of the boat after it was blasted show the AWGRIP primer that was applied for the hullside paint below the waterline(grey).

The best of the best…can’t say enough about this boat’s construction from my viewpoint. Not a drop of water or any sign of moisture, good coverage of primer/epoxy americoat 235. The boat had a basic buildup of antifoul paint, but with the boat in the shop for a repower this winter the owner decided to start fresh. After, I stripped the boat and the yard crew applied a fresh coat of 235 epoxy and tied in the new bottom paint.  The only problems with the hull were punctures from the bill fish.

What a good looking boat….Not the easiest job I have ever attempted, but it is done. The crew at the boat yard/Hatteras dealer were great to work with and the local painter/detailer who followed me worked hard to make the boat perfect. The Hatteras construction process makes the hull very hard and also tough for the paint to hold to it with normal prep.  I was hired with the help of others to correct the paint adhesion problems.

This boat was brought back to the manufacturer service center for regular spring maintenance- the owner decided to have the bottom stripped – barrier coated – and 2 coats of antifoul .  The bottom work should give the owner two full seasons before new paint needs to be reapplied.