bottom painting

bellajude

Active member
Joined
Nov 4, 2013
Messages
30
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C SE
Vessel Name
bellajude
Have a 2008 Blue hull 21 that has never been bottom painted. Any suggestions as to the process to paint the bottom. Thanks for any info.
 
First of all, check your local and state regulations for bottom paint regulations. Your local marine store such as West's can help. The prep depends on the final selection of bottom paint. Since it is likely that you trailer your boat, look for a "semi-ablative" paint. In the colder climates you may not need as much antifouling as we need here in Florida. We use Seahawk Cucote, black color because it has excellent antifouling formulation and, it can be on the trailer and not lose its antifouling capability. For vessels that stay in the water Seahawk recommends their F-35. You can go to their web site and use an online paint selection guide that lets you set the parameters you would like. There are environmental considerations and there are bottom paints with no copper in them. I do not have any experience with them. I have used Interlux and West Marine store brand paint but all of the ones I have used have copper in them. Generally the paint manufacturers will give excellent guidance on unpainted gel coat prep. Usually it is a very light sanding followed by using their recommended hull wash. It is really a wipe. On all of the boats I have painted, I have always used an epoxy based seal coat compatible with the chosen paint. This was particularly important in the past due to blister formation on some of the earlier hull resins. I have not seen many blister issues on the newer hulls but my personal choice would be to use the sealer. Being that the sealer is a lighter color it provides a good indicator as the bottom paint "ablates." The reason for choosing ablative paint is that you need only a light sanding before repainting. I have dealt with vinyl paints that just don't want to come off after they have lost their antifouling protection. Remember, the finished job is only as good as the prep. Long winded reply, sorry Tuggers.

Pat & Carolyn, Ladybug, Too
 
Bellajude:

You have a lot of choices when it comes to bottom paint. Do your research as one bottom paint may be good for fresh water, but not salt water, another may be better for being out of the water for periods of time while others are not. In any and all cases the preparation of the hull to receive your bottom paint of choice is not only critical for proper longevity of your bottom paint but the same for most never been bottom painted boats. We use our Kismet in fresh and salt water and at times it sits on its trailer for months at a time. Based on this we used Pettit Vivid as our bottom paint applied over a coat of Pettit No Sand Primer.

To read about and see detailed photo's of our hull prep, bottom primer and painting simply click on the links below. The top link is day one and the progress while the bottom link continues the progress into day two and completion.


http://trailertrawlerlife.com/trailerab ... ard-blues/

http://trailertrawlerlife.com/cruising/ ... -part-two/
 
Our boat sits unused 6-7 monthds over the winter, then is used primarily in salt water (BC and SE AK) for 2-3 months continuous each summer. We've had great results with Pettit Hydrocoat, on top of Pettit sandless primer. Hydrocoat is an ablative, water-based, not nasty to apply, and relatively easy to clean up.

First I washed the never-painted 8-year-old FG hull very thoroughly, then wiped thoroughly with a solvent (Interlux 202) designed to be sure there's no remaining wax. Three coats of primer, paying close attention to the instructions about drying time between coats, then 2-3 coats of Hydrocoat. Still works pretty well after 8 summers on the ocean, but getting close to time to sand and apply another coat or two.
 
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