Soda Blasting a Boat Hull - Anyone Ever?

(andy_nintzel)

Hey I am thinking about selling my X-Star and picking up a 2011 X-Star at the MN boat show. Well actually I am not thinking about doing this I am going to do this. Look out for the new whip on Bald Eagle in MN next summer. Anyway, I was cleaning up the old 2001 X-star and a good buddy of mine suggested that I get the hull soda blasted (mainly because his brother does it for a living). Has anyone ever had anything soda blasted? I looked into and it seems popular to do on fiberglass and boat hull but I have never talked to anyone who has done it.

Any Help would be great!

mojo 10-15-2010, 1:28 PM

never heard of it. is it the hull really oxidized? a good orbital, the right pads, the right products, and most can be brought back to first year color. oh and alot of time and beer.

(csaidler) · (csaidler) **Join Date: Aug 2010** 10-15-2010, 2:31 PM

I've seen it used like sand blasting for stripping cars and removing graffiti, and I know the selling point is that it's supposed to be gentler but... I don't known if it's gentle enough for gelcoat.

(durty_curt) · (durty_curt) **Join Date: Apr 2008** 10-15-2010, 3:00 PM

Sorry for gettin of the topic... but whats inspiring you to upgrade your Xstar now?

(andy_nintzel)

Quote:

Originally Posted by durty_curt

Sorry for gettin of the topic... but whats inspiring you to upgrade your Xstar now?

Its Time, she's been good but she's 10 years old. That and Greed. I am finally in a position where I can buy the boat I have wanted since the pickel fork came out.

(baitkiller) · (baitkiller) **Join Date: Jan 2010** 10-15-2010, 7:00 PM

Soda blasting is useful to remove built up anti-fouling paint from wet stored boats. Soda is used because silica sand can become embedded in the gel or CSM layers and cause issues later. Is your hull bottom painted? I am guessing no.
Even after stripping the paint you will then have to finish sand, wet sand then polish to regain any luster. Quite allot of work really.

Methinks this process is not for you.

(grant_west) · (grant_west) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 10-16-2010, 2:10 AM

^^^^^X-100^^^^
in have no idea what the bottom of your x star looks like but Im pretty sure you would Never want to soda blast a fiberglass hull.

(murphy_smith) · (murphy_smith) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 10-16-2010, 9:39 AM

I'm with grant.

Get out some sandpaper and be in control of how how gelcoat you remove....

(jeff_mn) · (jeff_mn) **Join Date: Jul 2009** 10-18-2010, 6:49 AM

Andy - don't even think about that man.. A strong hull cleaner and a high speed orbital will do the same with less damage and less work..

I'll come out and surf the next X-Star in the spring.

(andy_nintzel)

Thanks for all the advice guys I am just going to orbital the whole boat. Really I was being lazy and was hoping this would be an easy alternative to having to break out the orbital.

(spridle) · (spridle) **Join Date: Sep 2009** 10-18-2010, 3:18 PM

DO NOT go with the soda. If its really gooped up, or just stained, I would suggest muriatic acid. Reduced with water, in a spray bottle. Follow that up with a good compound buff and polish. Then wax her up.

(jeff_mn) · (jeff_mn) **Join Date: Jul 2009** 10-19-2010, 6:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy_nintzel

Thanks for all the advice guys I am just going to orbital the whole boat. Really I was being lazy and was hoping this would be an easy alternative to having to break out the orbital.

Use a heavy duty hull cleaner first or if you get cheap - use toilet bowl cleaner..

Then orbital

(will5150) · (will5150) **Join Date: Oct 2002** 10-20-2010, 1:34 PM

Lime away and then PTFE cleaner- it will eat everything off of it.