Soda blast?

[quality time]

Does anyone have experience with this process for removing layers of bottom paint? I am thinking about having this done next spring and then having the bottom barrier coated. Any idea on pricing?

 

[H2ONUT]

I have no idea on the pricing, but I can tell you that it does one hell of a job. I watched 2 guys do a 30' boat that had really thick bottom paint. Took them about an hour and 15 minutes to complete. Bottom comes out very smooth.

 

[Mr Salt]

The marina I am at does a lot of soda blasting. It runs about $100 a foot including reapplication of bottom paint. That is on a 50+ foot boat, I don't know pricing on smaller ones. The process seems to work very well. It will also show any flaws that the bottom paint has hidden, like blisters.

 

[Scottzzzy]

You can buy the soda blasters cheap from Eastwood and they will sell you the soda as well. I have one for my car restoration and it works like a charm and easy as pie. Makes a hell of a mess though! I think I only paid $250 for my blaster online brand new. The soda comes in different grits like sandpaper.

 

[PlayDate]

I have only heard good things about it. In both MD and VA they "tent" the boat due to the green marina laws and that takes more time than the actual blasting. I like Eastwood products, but the soda blaster that a marine guy uses is a big machine with a fire hose size nozzle. The operator wears a full hazard suit with a fresh air supply.

I plan on getting it done next year when I pull my boat.

-John

 

[Scottzzzy]

I think that is why they can charge $100/ft. cause their equipment is sooo expensive. The soda is inert and mine running with my compressor removes 40+ years of repaints and rust off good old Detroit steel like a charm. Goggles, face mask, repirator, and a painters suit and I am off to the races and I resemble the Michelin man according to my loving kids!

 

[douglee25]

I got estimates last year for soda or walnut blasting. It was between $40 - $50/foot.

Doug

I believe I got one quote from these guys...

http://ecsodablasting.com/index.htm

 

[npcrx]

I just had it done it cost me $1700, they did a great job, the hull looked great. Now I had 2 coats of Barrier on it, and 2 coats of bottom paint.

 

[tobnpr]

I had mine sandblasted (not soda) last year. While the media may be inert, once it gets mixed in with twenty years worth of bottom paint it isn't. Cleanup is done ala Hazmat...that's where a lot of the expense comes in- or so they told me...

 

[Asureyez]

Last August I hauled and wante dit done, when they gave me two estimates with the low at 5K, I puked and said sand (cost 1200 to sand and re paint, plus paint), it it cost about a 1/3 . If the labor is trained in sanding they don't cut the barrier coat and just knock off the old bottom paint. I ge them to sand until the white gelcoat begins to shadow through.

 

[boatrboy]

I have only heard good things about it. In both MD and VA they "tent" the boat due to the green marina laws and that takes more time than the actual blasting. I like Eastwood products, but the soda blaster that a marine guy uses is a big machine with a fire hose size nozzle. The operator wears a full hazard suit with a fresh air supply.....-John

This is exactly what they did with mine right in my driveway. I put my boat on stands and removed the trailer. They charged less than a grand and there was no mess, and it took everything off the bottom. They cut up the plastic tent with the soda and took it with them. It was great. I too added Pettit Protect then bottom painted. I had sanded and repainted for years, but the chipping was getting harder and harder to control and I decided to have it blasted and have not regretted that decision. Take a look at these pics to see what it looked like.

 

[MExcelsior]

These pics are really cool. Thxs. 1 picture = a 1,000 words.

 

[Scottzzzy]

Now that is some creative problem solving! They bring all that "fancy" equipment to you. I bet those guys are busy. Great pics!