I own a 2005 306 Bimini.....I recently lost both my bilge pumps to paint flakes in the Bilge area. Is this something anyone else has ever experienced....and what are the range of solutions.....my mechanic is suggesting we just pressure wash it and shop vac it out.....but that seam like it will just continue or get worse over time?
Pealing Paint in Bilge
- Thread starter Billybaroo62
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SkunkBoat
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I would use a paint scraper not a power washer.
Power washer will send wet flakes everywhere and they will be a never ending problem. Don't do it.
Scrape really well & vacuum. Then sand & vacuum. then paint again.
If there is one truth in this world that I learned in the Navy it is "Once you paint something you are doomed to scrape it and paint it again"
Power washer will send wet flakes everywhere and they will be a never ending problem. Don't do it.
Scrape really well & vacuum. Then sand & vacuum. then paint again.
If there is one truth in this world that I learned in the Navy it is "Once you paint something you are doomed to scrape it and paint it again"
SkunkBoat said:
This approach sounds good to me but I would scrape, clean up and then wait and see if and how fast the remaining paint peels. The boat may have a moisture issue that is causing the paint to peel.
It can also be a bit tricky to apply a finish that can tolerate water contact. Those paints usually need a dry surface before painting and that may be tough to do with the boat in the water.
Agree with everything above. Especially about the pressure washer - I'd rather use a course power sander (low speed) and end up with dust, than with chips. The dust will wash away very easily. As far as recoating (once it's dry), a couple options (and there are more, I'm sure) is to use actual "bilge" paint or even tint a resin mixture (polyester is cheaper, but epoxy is easier).
Is your bilge floor actually painted, or is it gelcoat? Are we looking at a stringer in that picture? You may want to verify it's condition as the comment above about possibly having a moisture problem may be spot on (at least from what I can see in the picture). It's not necessarily a death sentence, but check it out further.
Is your bilge floor actually painted, or is it gelcoat? Are we looking at a stringer in that picture? You may want to verify it's condition as the comment above about possibly having a moisture problem may be spot on (at least from what I can see in the picture). It's not necessarily a death sentence, but check it out further.
Thanks for the advise from everyone....That is a stringer....I am assuming this is stock from Grady....the boat while a 2005 I am only the second owner....and when I purchased it.....she only had 550 hours....and it spent 7 years in Michigan....bubble rapped and winterized each season.....I doubt he would have repainted down there....but I will talk to my mechanic again and discourage the use of a pressure washer.....We are also going to glue down some reticulating foam around the bilge pumps to keep the chips from killing them....If we figure out what the root cause is.....I will post it.... so others might gain some knowlege.....my mechanic worked for the Grady White dealship for 15 years.... before starting his own business....he said he has never seen this issue.....