Hi Mark. I would work out what type of antifoul is on the boat then give Storrars a call to see what the recommend. There’s different types of antifoul. Like many people, I use an eroding formula that dries to a chalky constancy that you can see if you rub it. Other antifouls are harder, right the way up to coppercoat which is based on epoxy resin.
The type you have will dictate how and if you need to remove it. The eroding or polishing type is designed to slowly wear away, taking weed and bugs with it and will look tatty after several launches but the harder stuff should survive. Give your antifoul a gentle rub with a cloth and if the AF comes off it’s the eroding type. If it doesn’t come off then I’d leave it on the boat.
Whichever type you have, don’t dry sand it, as the dust is nasty stuff. You could try wet sanding but scraping seems to be recommended more often. Some people use chemical peels like specialised paint stripper often based on caustic soda; this softens the paint ready for scraping.
The final thing to look out for is that the hull’s gelcoat will probably have been sanded to abrade and roughen it before painting which may look as untidy as the original antifoul.
