Gelcoat Shaver Recommendations?

[jpendoley]

My boat has the pox. Almost exclusively just beneath the gelcoat. All bottom paint is removed, but there is a poorly applied barrier coat-looks like west epoxy and then what may or may not be gelcoat . I want to shave/peel the bottom, dry oput over a New England winter and rebarrier coat with nor Seahawk. Looking for recommendations on a good, somewhat affordable gel coat shaver that will allow me to remove the remaining epoxy and gel coat with minimum fairing after. Would really appreciate product recommendations from folks with first hand experience.
Jim

[jpendoley]

meant to say I plan on using Interprotect or Seahawk barrier coat after hull is shaved

[Phantom Jim]

Down here in the hot Gulf Coast salt water we pretty much ignore those blisters. When we bottom paint and find them and they are wet inside, we grind them out, wash the area with acetone and putty the area with Marine Tex. Most are about quarter size. Phantom has never had a barrier coat been continuously immersed in these waters (only out a couple of weeks for bottom paint every 4-5 years) since 1981.

You might want to poke a few and if none are wet, leave them alone.

Just my thoughts....it works for Phantom.

[bletso]

This is what I used years ago.

[jpendoley]

I have seen that model in use-minimal fairing required after. Was not sure of the model name and manufacturer so thank you for that lead!

[jpendoley]

Originally Posted by Phantom Jim

Down here in the hot Gulf Coast salt water we pretty much ignore those blisters. When we bottom paint and find them and they are wet inside, we grind them out, wash the area with acetone and putty the area with Marine Tex. Most are about quarter size. Phantom has never had a barrier coat been continuously immersed in these waters (only out a couple of weeks for bottom paint every 4-5 years) since 1981.



You might want to poke a few and if none are wet, leave them alone.



Just my thoughts....it works for Phantom.

Jim, after paying to remove the bottom paint by blasting I can’t bring myself to reapply barrier coat over ten thousand blisters-mans gotta do what a mans gotta do. I agree they are shallow-seemingly between gel coat and laminate, but it’s going to be peeled and sealed.
Finding the best tool that will remove the old poorly applied barrier coat and gel coat is the current goal. Others must have done the same-looking for specific tool recommendations

[Phantom Jim]

I was just offering what we do here. I cannot know what you are seeing on your hull and cannot offer any knowledgeable recommendation. The posted photo looks like blemishes on the gel coat, not blisters. It is just a photo and cannot show all that is present.

[jpendoley]

Originally Posted by Phantom Jim

I was just offering what we do here. I cannot know what you are seeing on your hull and cannot offer any knowledgeable recommendation. The posted photo looks like blemishes on the gel coat, not blisters. It is just a photo and cannot show all that is present.

Understood Jim and I appreciate the feedback.
Having peeled a hull 15 years ago I’m looking for an easier tool than grinding. Last job almost killed me and I was much younger when last I did a bottom.
Willing to pay a little more for a smoother finish and less fairing and less fatigue.

[Phantom Jim]

Good luck. as a plus, your arms will look like Superman's when you finish;-)

[SV Siren]

From my buddy Mads, a practical review...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_qR1d9Cu5g

[jpendoley]

S/V Siren, thanks. I saw the Athena video-the tool looks like it does an amazing job and is very expensive. He rented it and thats common in Euurope he says-doubt I can find one here to rent....The company that makes the Marine Shaver Pro has now introduced something called the Peel Pro-looks identical and half the price and weighs in at 8 pounds which is considerably lighter than the Gel Peel. Would be great if someone on the forum had first hand experience with it.