paaint strippers

[JSmith]

New member with a 1960 Alden Challenger in Cozy Harbor Me (Southport).

She has alot of bright work in need of a complete stripping as well as Sitka spsruce masts that have been painted white (right over the old varnish). Being a little numb and a sucker for bright work as well as a glutton for punishment we (my better half and I) are thinking of pecking away at the bright work over the next few winters (yhought we would do it this summer too but too busy on the nice days sailing........)

We were wondering about infared strippers and if any one had any experience- I know they are expensive but for all we are looking at thought they might be good- you can also rent them w/ the rental going towards the purchase price.

Any thoughts/comments would be helpfull.

Jon

[Capn_Tom]

My boat is fiberglass so I have never used one on a boat. I purchased a "Silent Paint Remover" infrared stripper a while back for use on my house. It worked okay. Less burning than a heat gun but a bit heavy and slow. Also fragile, it fell off my ladder (about 6 feet) and the elements shattered (heat gun would have been unscathed). I ended up selling it on Ebay and putting vinyl siding on the house. I really didn't have the time to be wasting on a land based home.