Why Dustless Blasting Is Best For Removing Marine Growth
Why is Paint Stripping Necessary?
August 1, 2022
Heavy Equipment Maintenance
October 1, 2022
If you’ve had your boat in the lake or the Gulf this summer, chances are you have some growth on the bottom of your boat that needs to be removed
Every boat owner is aware of the necessary maintenance involved in removing the anti-foul paint and marine growth from their boat’s bottom. It can be eliminated with dustless blasting without harming the gel coat. By regulating the pressure and media flow, we may be as gentle as necessary to remove tenacious paint and sea growth without damaging the gel coat’s surface. We come to you and our process is eco-friendly.
A&J Ecoblasting provides dustless blasting that is perfect for those who own boats or other marine equipment. Whether you’ve had your boat in Lake Ray Hubbard or you took it to the coast for the summer, chances are you have some growth on the bottom of your boat.
It doesn’t matter if your boat’s hull is made of steel, aluminum, or fiberglass, the substrate is not harmed with our ecoblasting technique. Antifouling paint, epoxy, dense marine growth, and open gel coat blisters can all be removed with ecoblasting.
Marine Growth
Slime, algae, barnacles, and zebra mussels are just a few of the things that can adhere to the bottom of your boat. “Fouling” is the term used to describe this phenomenon. In addition to being unattractive, fouling growth can make the hull rougher, diminishing the vessel’s performance and maneuverability, raising drag, slowing down the speed, and consuming more fuel. Fouling, if ignored, causes the hull to corrode and the vessel to deteriorate.
Bacteria adhering to your boat is the first sign of fouling. It clings to practically anything and when the circumstances are right, continues to spread and grow. It might have a slimy appearance or grows in a polymeric way to resemble grass or hair. It can be any color, including blue, green, brown, or red.
Complex life forms like algae, protozoa, seaweed, barnacles, mussels, sea squirts, tube worms, and others start to cling to the hull once this sticky biofilm of bacteria has attached to it. Each higher life form feeds on the lower ones and is drawn to the “food” on the bottom of your boat. The fact that traditional carnauba-based waxes attract and feed on bacteria and algae is one of the reasons you shouldn’t use them on your boat.
Environmentalists and governments are pushing for the ban of toxic bottom paints and antifouling paints because they are non-specific, irreparably harm the environment and, eventually, people, and kill marine life that comes into touch with them. Numerous European nations have already enacted bans on them, and it is very probable that North America will follow suit soon. There are bottom coats that are less toxic which makes it difficult for marine growth to attach, but eventually, you will still need to clean the bottom of your boat.
Putting Up Your Boat For The Off Season
Give us a call if your boat is in dry dock and you’re ready to get it cleaned up. We employ a dustless blasting technique to eliminate old paint, marine growth, and other things. Additionally, it is environmentally safe. When we’re done, your boat or marine equipment will appear almost brand new!
