This hardworking, fast, 22ft fishing boat, at Willow Way Marina, in Christchurch, has just received a clean and fresh start with the removal of antifoul.

Over time, layers of old antifoul can build up, adding unnecessary weight and drag that can hold back performance. Stripping it away not only restores the hull’s smooth profile but also prepares the boat for new protection or alternative hull treatments. In this case, the goal was simple: remove the antifoul cleanly and efficiently, revealing the hull beneath.

Simple maintenance makes a big difference!

With the antifoul fully removed, this 22-footer is now ready for its next stage. It’s amazing how much difference a good clean-up can make to a small boat like this. Sometimes, it’s the simplest maintenance that can make the biggest difference. Check out the antifoul removal photos below.

Looking for effective antifoul removal in Dorset and Hampshire? Contact us today for a free quote. We are based in Verwood, Dorset, and work with individuals, commercial and industrial businesses throughout the South.

When a 42-foot steel boat in Southampton was booked in for underwater blasting, the owner expected a routine surface-preparation job of his 30-year-old vessel. To ensure full environmental protection and safe working conditions, to contain blasting debris, the Symblast team professionally tented the vessel before beginning the steel and iron grit-blasting process.

Serious hull problems exposed

Grit blasting quickly revealed the true condition of the hull, and the findings were serious. In several areas, corrosion had progressed so far that the steel was paper-thin. It was very fortunate that this work was carried out because the blasting exposed some potentially catastrophic issues where the hull had corroded so far in places that holes actually appeared, which could have led to the vessel sinking!!

Carrying out the marine blasting when we did was extremely fortunate, preventing a dangerous situation and giving the boat’s owner time to act.

A timely response

We immediately sourced a reputable fabrication and welding company capable of handling the repairs to a high standard, after which the hull was painted with 5 coats of epoxy, then primed and antifouled. Once the structural work was completed and the hull’s integrity restored, we continued with the full coating process. The pictures here show the blasted hull and some of the issues we discovered.

The result

The vessel now has a professionally repaired, fully protected underwater hull, far stronger and safer than before. The owner was extremely grateful for the thoroughness of the process and left a positive review in appreciation.

Customer Feedback

“Couldn’t get antifoul to evenly stick to my 30 year old steel boat. Symblast were straight on the case. Sorted within a week of the call. Paul is diligent and very thorough. The grit blast process exposed some potentially significant issues with the hull and again, Paul went straight to his contacts list and came up with a solution. 1st class service.”

Looking for professional marine-blasting in Dorset or Hampshire? Contact Symblast for a free quote. We are based in Verwood, Dorset, and are a professional blast cleaning company providing a variety of mobile painting and sandblasting services to industrial and commercial companies and individuals throughout the South.

Sand Blasting Oak Roof Timbers Romsey

Symblast was asked to restore the 200-year-old oak roof timbers in this barn as part of a barn conversion project. The barn was in a small hamlet near Romsey in Hampshire, and we advised the sandblasting would take a day to complete.

The oak roof was actually still in really good condition, but it was dark and dirty as you’d expect after 200 years! Our mobile sandblasting team soon had the oak roof looking almost as good as new. It’s amazing how a light sandblasting on oak enhances the natural colour, as you can see in the images below.

The barn roof now looks amazing and the rest of the barn conversion project can now get underway.

If you’re looking to rejuvenate an old wooden roof, contact Symblast for a free sandblasting quote in Hampshire, Dorset and across the Southern Counties.

Grit Blasting a Classic Triumph Stag

Symblast were asked to remove all the old rust and paint from this classic Triumph Stag car as the initial step in its restoration by Bell Autos.

Grit blasting can be a powerful tool in classic car restoration for the following reasons:

• Thorough stripping: Grit blasting quickly and effectively removes paint, rust, and other contaminants, leaving bare metal perfect for inspection and repair. This level of clean is hard to achieve with other methods like sanding or chemical dipping.
• Time-saving: Compared to manual methods, grit blasting can significantly reduce the time needed to strip a car body. 
• Versatility: Grit blasting works on various components, including the frame, undercarriage, and body panels. This allows for comprehensive restoration and ensures no hidden corrosion goes unnoticed.

Our mobile sandblasting team are used by several car restoration companies across the south of England, so please contact Symblast if you’d like a free quote.

Yacht Keel Corrosion Repair Southampton

Symblast was asked if they could repair this old yacht keel in Kemps Quay Marina, Southampton. The keel had severe electrolytic corrosion, so we used grit blasting to remove all the rust and corrosion damage. As you can see in the before images below, the damage was pretty severe and unfortunately, due to the age of the boat, a new keel wasn’t an option, as they don’t make them anymore! 

Was this yacht condemned? 

No, Symblast had the perfect solution – to rebuild the old keel.  

Once the keel was completely clean and dry, we started rebuilding it using solvent-free epoxy filler, which was done over a 3-day period, allowing for each layer to harden. We finally bladed it smooth with solvent-free epoxy to the quality you can clearly see in the finished keel images below. 

If your boat keel suffers from corrosion or needs antifoul removal, contact Symblast today. 

Symblast were appointed to remove many layers of antifoul which had been applied on a Contessa yacht. The build up over the years required sensitive removal so as not to damage the fibreglass of the hull. You can see from the images the care we take to protect the environment in which we are working. The whole hull was peeled removing the many years of antifoul layers in readiness for an application of a fresh layer.

Symblast were appointed to assist in the refurbishment of a 1970’s classic car, a Triumph Spitfire. The restorer needed to remove all paint and existing finishes to inspect the vehicle and identify any repairs before treating and painting.

Sandblasting is a better alternative to acid dipping because with acid dipping it may not be possible to wash out all the acid from hard to reach places. In addition by washing, you are adding water to a bare metal surface therby potentially introducing rust.

Symblast are experienced in preparing classic cars for rework.

Symblast was appointed as contractors to work on a large metal sculpture as part of the Sculpture by the Lakes exhibition. The large metal sculpture was formed by milling. As part of the process, a scale is created called “mill scale” which coats the surface. A feature of the exhibit was its changing patina caused by the environment. The presence of mill scale would prevent this from happening. Symblast used sandblasting to sensitively remove the mill scale and enabled it to show its patina as intended by the artist.

If you require any mobile sandblasting in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire or other southern counties of England, please contact Symblast.