Soda blast old bottom paint?

[Steve David]

Hi, have any of you had the bottoms of your boat blasted with Soda ash to remove the build up of bottom paint over the years? My boat is 9 years old, and it's evident there are multiple layers of old bottom paint. I'm now using an abblative so any more build up will be minor. Quote for the soda treatment, hauling, epoxy barrier coats, new bottom paint etc. range from $9,000 to $16,000. She's a 54 Sea Ray DA. If you had it done, did you notice any performance increase?? I don't have any blistering problems, and performance is where it is supposed to be according to Sea Ray and CAT specs.

Thank you for your help!

 

[jmas]

Steve, I have same problem on my 87 34' Luhrs.
Cant find anyone local to do it.
Boat will be hauled on monday, pressure cleaned and 2 more coats applied.

 

[MarioG]

Yep, ours needs a bottom job done also. no luck on the soda...

 

[Steve David]

Hey Joe, Mario:

I received quotes from Cable Marine and MarineMaxDania. Including reapplication of prop speed to all underwater gear, the soda blasting, new epoxy barrier, etc. etc. the quotes run from $9,800 to $16,000. A normal haul and paint usually costs me about $2,500 including zincs all around and another $1,200 for prop speed. Because the existing bottom paint is not flaking off, I'll probably just go with the abblative again instead of the complete soda blasting job. It was more of a cosmetic appearance issue than a real need. The quotes took care of my cosmetic needs "issue" pretty quick Thanks for your replies, See you on the water.

 

[RonF]

Steve,

Did your boat always have ablative, or did you switch at some time? I am concerned about adding the next layer of hard bottom paint. Last yeat the bottom paint guy said that I should have the bottom soda blasted and switch to ablative. It sounded like blasting and a new barrier coat was a requirement, not just a recommendation.

 

[Steve David]

Hi Ron,

My bottom had always been the hard Micron/Trinidad. We switched to abblative last year in May because of all the build up. Apparently MarineMax uses hard bottom coat unless the customer specs abblative. I don't believe there is a need for soda blasting unless you have flaking and your gel coat is exposed. Osmotic blistering would have shown up for both our boats by now if it was going to be a problem.

Steve

 

[RonF]

Great. MM used to put Interlux hard Superbotom on it. Last year I bought hard Trinidad and hired a private guy to prep and paint. I was hoping to stretch the 12 month interval to 18. It will be a year in April. I'll have to ask my diver about the condition from time to time.