Sodablasting Day was Thursday, July 17. Essex Boat Works contracted with Billings Sodablasting (a father & son team) for the job on TOM-KAT. A large plastic sheet was spread under the boat and jack stands, then 2 large sheets were hung from each side of the hull and clipped together at the ends and the bottom. In this picture you can catch a glimpse of the son lying on the stony ground 
to blast the bottom of the boat.
The plastic sheeting blows up like a balloon during the blasting.
The bag of sodablasting material which was used is made in 
The sodablasting material looks and feels like salt crystals, but is actually just regular baking soda. 
The whole process took about six hours (9am to 3pm). Bob stayed at the boatyard to “supervise” and I spent the day with my sister. All the pictures today were taken by Bob.
The son emerges from the plastic bubble for breaks. Dad would blow the dust off his special suit before the son could remove it. 
The plastic along with the paint residue is finally removed and properly disposed and then the boat is hosed off. 
A view of the stern of TOM-KAT with all the bottom paint removed. The next step will be for the yard to sand the bottom in preparation for an epoxy barrier coat followed by bottom paint.
A very special Happy Birthday to our son, Tom, out in the mountains of
Our Best to All
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