I need to haul out and anitfoul etc soon.
This will be the first time for me and I've spoken to others and received lots of conflicting opinions regarding paints and removal options for the old anitfoul! My boat hasn't been done for about 3 years though I regularly clean it using my scuba gear so has little growth build up. I will probably use HYC yard as its penned at HYC. The yard won't let you dry sand unless dust vaccum sytems are employed. On reading various opinions and options I was considering scraping with a large scraper. One question is where can I get one of these and preferably with a tungten carbide blade. It also ocurrs to me that total removal of the old paint is not required provided its sound, why not sand, even by hand as mine is a small yacht, prime if necessary and repaint with 2 coats over the top?
Salty sea dogs opinions eagerly sought!

There are plenty of on line articles - eg;

www.coating.com.au/how-to-remove-antifouling/

Yes dry sanding without vacuum is illegal.

Bunnings have Uni-pro scrapers at 50mm wide with tungsten blade - expect you will want wider than that. They have 100mm scrapers with other metal blades.

If the old afouling is not flaking then wet sanding is usually done with appropriate PPE. Spot prime and 2-3 afoul coats as you say.

Whatever you do don't damage any epoxy osmosis barrier coats which might have been put over the original gelcoat - assuming you have a grp yacht.

I always wet sand with 80 grit - messy but gets the job done.

This has to be the worst of all boat jobs!!

Just buy one of these, and a pack of spare blades.

sydneytools.com.au/product/bahco-665-65mm-paint-scraper?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIruKk8dCR8wIVWHRgCh2ZngNFEAQYAiABEgL4MPD_BwE
Round the corners of on the grinder first.

Then mask and glove up. Antifoul isn't nice stuff.
Fun for the whole family (not really) , and it gives you a 6 pack by the time you're done.
Repeat in 2 years time

Top tip from a newbie who just did the same job - when you have a shower after sanding all day be careful not to wash the antifoul out of your hair and into your eyes, it stings.

Wet sand is the way to go a sanding float is the minimum device, a pneumatic sander would be good if you have a good enough compressor. For scrapers I have a selection of weapons, among the favourites is a concreters trowel and a standard sort of paint scraper that I've put a long handle on, likewise an extension pole on the paint roller give you more leverage

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dmarco said..
The yard won't let you dry sand unless dust vaccum sytems are employed.

Fremantle Sailing Club also bought in this rule in 2021, which I assume is based on the latest WA environmental requirements. You might want to check what you can and cannot do now in WA. If you breach the latest rules I assume the fines would be way in excess of the cost of using a dust vaccum system.

I dry sand my hull with an orbital sander that has a vacuum connection, connected to a Ryobi shop-vac. It's a cheap set-up using stuff I would normally have in the garage anyway. I wear a face mask, old crappy hat of some sort, disposable overalls, old crappy shoes, safety glasses.

Cheers, Graeme

Anyone every tried a paint stripper on antifoul? I see international make one www.international-yachtpaint.com/en/gb/boat-paint-products/antifouling/interstrip-af

Just did my s&s39 and wet sanded using 80 grit and that was plenty. Avoid taking too much off and try not to cut through any primer below it as well. Any brand of antifoul will have a list of compatible brands that can paint over but if in doubt a layer of primer will sort it out.

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Sydney88 said..
Anyone every tried a paint stripper on antifoul? I see international make one www.international-yachtpaint.com/en/gb/boat-paint-products/antifouling/interstrip-af

I did that years ago on an aluminium fishing boat. Took several days with two of us. Very unpleasant. I won't be doing that again!

I like to wet sand with 60 grit wet and dry. I take the time to feel every portion of the hull and check it for any bumps or bruises, she is strip cedar with glass over so it is important that she gets thoroughly checked.
I like getting rid of each years layers of antifoul. After 21 years I only have a few layers of paint there.
A mate used wall paper remover to get rid of his antifoul when he did an epoxy and copper antifoul. Nasty job.
cheers

Phil

I always pressure wash the hull with the girney as soon as it comes out of the water. Gets rid of the thin layer of biological crap, slime etc that really adds work if left to dry. This also gets rid of the surface layer of spent antifoul if you are using ablative.

Don't forget to read the antifoul manufacturers instructions.

Generally, if you use a roller to apply, you will need THREE coats, otherwise you are wasting your time.