If you choose a stripper take off thin layers at a time. This is no time to get in a hurry. I’ve used an auto stripper that will go to bare metal in minutes. Ask at your auto paint store. You can get all your tape there, too.


Strippers will take off gel coat and could damage the layup epoxy, too. Get a water soluble stripper. The water neutralizes the stripper and that is a must or it will keep working.


You can remove the applied stripper using water and a scotch pad or use a putty knife to scrape it off in thin layers of stripper. Do not leave the stripper on for long. Start with small areas to get to know how it works in your application. To mush paint taken off at a time can result in gouges and uneven removal. You’ll see/know when you are getting through the paint. Wet sand at this point without the stripper and use plenty of water. Gel coat is good to sand for a smooth surface for your primer. Let stand to dry, then check for soft areas from the stripper and remove and dry. It goes really fast.