Looking for a stripper

No, not that kind of stripper.

Now that I've got your attention, I'm looking for the right product to strip the 2-3 layers of paint off my 1968 San Juan. I should have a #5 CC trailer for it this weekend and want to strip it before I get it on the trailer.

Hopefully the red mahogany gelcoat below it is nice.

So what are my options?

In my other thread, Pete suggested "Zip Strip" but I can't find that exact name.

I'm not against getting the proper sand blasting equipment (I already have some and have stripped a trailer with black beauty). I have it on blocks on a concrete pad right now. I'd like to use something that won't destroy the concrete or the surrounding grass.

Thanks!

I was thinking of watching the hockey game tonight at Beansnappers.

Jeff,
"Zip Strip" just happens to be a trade name for good old methylene chloride based stripper. Any good hardware store will have it. Get the gel version.   

ny_nautique wrote: How do you remove the gel without scratching the gelcoat? What tool do you use?

Jeff,
A putty knife. Don't worry about scratching the gel coat. You are going to have to do a wet sand and buff anyway. Under the paint, it will not look pretty.

I cannot remember what stripper I used to remove the paint on the console lid but it removed the mahogany gel. I think I left it on too long. Use a plastic scraper or make one out of wood if your worried

I usually stay away from chemical strippers and softeners when gelcoat is involved. actually anything that isn't metal. problem being is that fiberglass tends to absorb and hold chemicals leading to some difficulty in getting good results if painting. you wind up with fish eyes and problems you'll chase and chase wasting hours and ending up disappointed anyways.

IF you do go that route i would apply and remove locally and not let it sit on there for too long. in other words small areas at a time.

What is your ultimate goal? Are you looking to re-paint it? and with what? because that will matter a lot when deciding how to attack it.
If your looking to compound and buff the gelcoat under it then thats not worth trying in my eyes, remember, whoever painted it in the first place had to sand it to get paint to stick.

if your looking to re-apply bottom paint, go to town with a box of coarse paper and an orbital sander( i love my Rigid multi speed. Wet vac hose fits right onto the handle without modification too.)
thats going to cost the least and give the best results. do yourself a favor and get a mylar suit or something because you'll ruin your clothes.
black beauty will ruin the boat. soda is the only media i would use unless you have the water injected guns which are $$$$ and then you would use a finer glass or sand.

If your looking to go back to the gel coat look without bottom paint which i sense is your goal, my suggestion would be to sand with an orbital. tape off the gel above the paint and sand right up to it. color match your hull color best you can with awgrip. and roll the awlgrip on and tip it with a sponge.
then paint or decal a bootstripe where the color transition is.

also, pick up some on-off hull cleaner and spray down that rudder and wheel! that has got to be robbing a knot or two. haha

i didn't realize the whole boat was painted, that changes things. I thought it was just bottom painted.
gel is thick in comparison to a cars clearcoat. but still asking a lot to bring it back to a shine without burning through. It would take a LOT of wet sanding.

Zombie Stripper!