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I've been removing the bottom paint on my old Montauk with citristrip. I believe Jeff had suggested this product to another on this site. Anyway, it does quite a good job. I believe I have 2 coats on the bottom to remove.
I've been using a plastic stiff bristle hand brush on the painted surface after letting a generous amount of citristrip sit about 8 hours. I put it on in the morning and go out about my chores through the day and work on the boat in the eve. This takes off most of the paint - about 80+%. I then washed the bottom with boat soap and the scrub brush. After the bottom drip dries I applied another coat of citristrip, wait again 6 hours and used an abrasive plastic pad off the shelf from HD or lowes and scrub with a bit of muscle. Wash the bottom again after step 2.
The bottom looks better than I thought it could after being painted. I have some minor repair to do before I polish and wax. I think in the end you would need to look real close to know it was painted.
BTW, the citristrip did not have any noticeable affect on the gel coat.
Citristrip also works great to remove old state registration stickers - I had 7 years worth piled up.
Pete

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Pete,

Any photos of the removal as you go along....?

I think all of us would like to see the progress on our project.

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Pete,

The other stuff is called peel away. I am going to have to strip all of the paint off my Outrage this spring and had decided to go with the citristrip as well. I am glad to hear it worked out great for you.

How much have you used on the Montauk so far?

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Yes I do have some pics.

BTW , I also have some pics of the stainless fuel filter mount I have for the engine bolts in the well. I'll get the pics together and post.

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Jeff, The citristrip seems to soak into the paint. The more of a coating I gave it the better it worked in the first application. I first did the entire stern. This was some of the easier parts to do becaus it is accessible without reaching under and bending step 1 results are the best. Step 2 in the stern looks great with only some small blotching remaining mostly around the drain tubes. I did the port side from behind the bow and under to the "chine" I believe u call it......harder to reach and more work to bend and get under - results not as good in step 1. I believe in step 2 the results will match the stern. I worked the bow with (back to the first trailer roller) 2 applications and it looks great and as good as the stern with almost no blotching.
I used 1/2 gallon so far. I figure I will need 1.5 gallons to complete the job.
Pete

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What does this stuff do to your trailer? I've been thinking about removing the bottom paint from my Outrage using a similar process...someone recommended using a soy based product on another board...they said they had good results with...just want to make sure I need to cover up my trialer underneath or not...

Thanks again...

Dave

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I cover up the concrete floor of the garage and the trailer frame as best I can. Where the citristrip has spilled or dripped on the trailer has done no damage I can see and no staining. The concrete floor has some light staining. I have not put the hose to the floor yet to try and clean it.
I have an old galvanized trailer. No paint on it.

Pete

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I started the stern with peel away and have been unimpressed. I have done two applications so far and I would have to do a third. The citristrip sounds better. Where did you find it, marine store or home center?

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Pete,
Get some "On-Off Bottom Cleaner", available at your local marine parts retailer...it's basically phosphoric acid, used for cleaning ice makers, wear glasses and gloves, but it REALLY cleans a gelcoat surface....
Bottom paint is engineered to "slough off" by nature, it really doesn't know how to do anything else, but come off...barnacles and other marine "stuff" just can't stick to it......keep scrubbing....
See you in Cornwall......

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I just went through the pains of bottom paint removal. The method for me was to first use Ready Strip. This worked well on the initial coat removal. I scraped the goop off with a decent paint scraper. I then followed up with Citristrip and a razor blade. I then scrubbed the bottom with a green scrubbing pad wet with Citristrip. This was the trick that made the bottom factory bare, after wiping down with acetone. Good luck!

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I tried the citristrip and I was pretty impressed. It is not fast by any measure but it did a pretty good job. I have been left with what looks like sanding sealer applied to the hull. I did try to wet sand some off and 400 grit took it off without issue. It will be a lot of sanding but the stern will be clear.
Paint Removal

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Pete,
Does the gelcoat under bottom paint need painting after being stripped. My '67 Eastport has bottom paint and I'm not sure if I should leave it as is and repaint or strip it at some point.

Andy

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Why are you all removing the bottom paint? Will you repaint? Is it a situation where the boat is trailered more often? Is this an asthetic thing?
I just opted to have my old bottom paint taken off, gelcoat/fiberglass issues repaired, sealant and new bottom paint applied. I will moor the boat for longer periods than trailering, but I hope I made the right decision to repaint.

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For me, my boat sits on a Jet Dock now so no need for the bottom paint. I am currently removing the paint from the stern because I will install Trim Tabs and will eventually remove all the paint. Also with the Jet Dock, the bottom paint keeps the boat from riding up on the Jet Dock easily.

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PJ,

If the boat is kept in the water for longer than a week or two, then painting the bottom is a must.

For those of us that trailer our boats and/or don't leave them in the water very long, then I can't think of any reason to paint the bottom....

You did the right thing if you keep your boat in the water for long periods. It is a must unfortunately.....

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I wish I could use the boat enough to need bottom paint. Anyway............
CitriStrip is working good for me. Its easy to get at HD along with the stripping pads I've been using for the 2nd application of citristrip. I've been using boat rolloff for the 3rd and final clean up of the bottom. I used it because I had it and it does not smell like the acetone. BTW it worked well on other stains. To me the bottom looks great. I dont plan on sanding it perfectly smooth. I'll just compound and wax. The boat is new to me and this gives me the chance to see if the bottom needs repair.

Pete

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Thanks to all for your input. I will have mine in the water (Lake Erie) for approx. 3 months. From all accounts, it seems that bottom paint is the right choice.

I have pictures of the steps in the project I can post when it is complete if anyone is interested.

PS. I used the citristrip on my teak and stainless to remove Cetol- it worked very well.