Stripping an aluminum boat

[thefishingfreak]

Best product to remove fiberglass is a bigass grinder with 24-36-40 grit. Just go easy on the aluminum.
Someone probably ran a glass seam down the middle to stop it from leaking.
Unless its really flaking off I would be minimally intrusive.

Also raw aluminum is very tricky to paint if you were to completely strip it. unless its peeling I would lightly scuff the old paint and just add a new topcoat.
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[Linesider82]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

Also raw aluminum is very tricky to paint if you were to completely strip it. unless its peeling I would lightly scuff the old paint and just add a new topcoat.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

This is key! Couldn't agree more.

[Raven]

i treat aluminum like a car body and use bondo first where needed to
fill lows or surround a spot for a patch and criss cross it before it sets up
giving me a surface to resin too and add fiberglass as a second layer if necessary.
Seals my leaks....! one day i'm out there and i see water
gurgling into the boat at too fast a rate ( a gash) so you know it's a losing battle.
so....
I went ashore tilted the boat and used a piece of peel and stick silver foil
tape (has unbelievable adherence qualities)and patched both sides and was back out fishing in 15 minutes.