Hi, I have an original Manx that the previous owner painted with Nason Base/Clear paint.  What is the best way to strip the paint without hurting the original gelcoat metalic finish?  It is a nice blue/green color under the paint, because he did not remove the hood, etc when he painted it.  Will Soda Blasting remove the paint layer and leave the original finish in tact?  Any help would be appreciated....

Do a search on the forum here for many such topics. Lots of ways to go, aircraft stripper is one quick method but you have to pay attention to how long it stays on the surface. Lots of folks tend to like to sand their finishes off since strippers tend to linger in fiberglass and screw up any future paint work. Soda blasting will work if it's done carefully. I guess the main question is: how do you know the gelcoat is in good shape to begin with? It had to have been painted for a reason.

Brake fluid?

I don't know how hardy the paint is on the buggy now,...but I removed old lacquer off an original gelcoat once by laying brake fluid soaked old t-shirts across the finish.  the shirts clinged to it rather well.  I left it for days.  eventually worked.  I knew brake fluid attacked paint, but didn't hurt plastic (you buy it in a plastic bottle)   The Gel coat is plastic and wasn't harmed at all.  Brake fluid seems to be water soluble some how, maybe, but it cleaned up real well with just detergent and water.

Good luck!

  If you are patient try brake fluid, it will not harm gel coat.