Bottom painting

[Martin610]

I'm not sure how to tell when it's time to soda blast and take the bottom down to bare gel coat. My boat is ten years old. I have some thick paint. Had a little cracking near the stern. Nothing terrible though. Is there a guideline on this?

-martin610

 

[SgtAlf]

Layers of bottom paint add weight to your boat. If it is a thick layer I would soda blast. Followed by 2 coats of ablative bottom paint. First coat one color, top coat another color, black over red for example. Ablative paint wears off as you move thru the water. When you see your bottom coat thru your top coat it's time to paint again.