Paint Removal - truck bed paint

[Johannah]

Last spring, I bought a beautifully made 14' sharpie skiff built by a teenager from a bateau.com design. The finish level is extraordinary with this one exception: the entire inside of the boat has white paint that flakes off when you touch it (or sit on it, etc.). The builder used something he called "truck bed paint". Does anyone have any idea what type of paint that might be and the best technique for removing it. It's not on quite the whole surface because the thwarts are surfaced in teak strips, unsealed by the look. He altered the design quite a bit to include sealed chambers for bouancy.

[ahp]

Open up those sealed chambers, quick. See my other post.

[Johannah]

Sorry ahp, which post is that?

OK, found the thread about watertight bulkheads. I believe you that they present a potential (you probably say inevitable) home for mushrooms. This is a 14' skiff living on a trailer. The builder changed quite a bit of the structural layout in order to build the closed compartments. I am a bit worried about how he incorporated the centerboard trunk for future access. Am loathe to cut the boat up radically but do accept that this may shorten its life, especially if we leave it in the water some time in the future.

This discussion is a bit academic because the boat belongs to my 13 year old daughter who would kill me if I take a saw to it. It is named Mures after the river that runs through her home town and is much loved.

But meanwhile, no one wants to sit on the flaky paint!!

[ 01-28-2003, 12:03 PM: Message edited by: Johannah ]

[steve sparhawk]

Truck bed paint is usually a polyurethane. If this is it and it is flaking, it must have been put on improperly--probably with the wrong thinner. I tried some truck bed paint on the outside bottom of my sharpie It sticks very well and takes a beating.

Just scrape and sand till you get no more flaking--should be easy if it's already volunteering.

Then paint away- try some of that flat latex some have advocated.

[ 01-29-2003, 02:46 AM: Message edited by: steve sparhawk ]

[Johannah]

Thanks Steve. What I am dreading is that maybe all this paint has to be stripped so that the new paint will adhere. The flaking is in small bits rather than sheets. Present plan is to sand as you suggest until no more flakes pop off, then wash thouroughly and let dry. Maybe follow up with a stiff brush and if no more paint jumps off, prime and repaint. Fortunately, the captain of this small ship likes to sand and paint. We'll see if she still does after this job which must wait 'til school is out. Eighth grade is enough of a challenge without competetion with boats. The poor kid would much rather row or paddle and who can blame her.