vinylester factory barrier coat

[DocJoe]

I have a used 2019 R23. It has the factory installed vinylester barrier coat. the original owner did not apply any anti-fouling paint. The original owner apparently stored the boat in the water (brackish waters of Ft. Lauderdale, Fl). IE, no bottom paint over the factory vinylester barrier coat.

My boat has now been out of water stored on trailer for 3 months. It will soon be stored on a boat lift out of water. The local waters are brackish (Pamlico Sound and River, NC).

My question is, as I prepare to launch for the first time, there are spots all over the hull where barancules were removed (white aginat the black barrier coat). Close inspection indicates these are not blisters, but residuals of the barnacles remain. Should I have the hull professionally sanded, soda-blaster, or what?

Then, should I have the barrier coat re-applied?

Lastly, should I have anti-fouling paint applied, inasmuch as the boat will be stored on a lift and only used for day trips, and rinsed with fresh water after each daily use?

Thank you, you advice is much appreciated.

Joe

PS. We LOVE the boat!!

 

[KennyMarrs]

Hello Joe,

Congratulations on the new boat.

As for the barrier coat, we never install that from the factory or bottom paint. If there is black below the water line, someone would have had that applied after receiving the boat.

Not knowing what is there I'd have it removed and start from scratch with anti-fouling paint.

Thanks,
-Kenny

 

[Chimo]

What Kenny says is absolutely correct (as usual 😉

The only thing I would add is to tell the shop that will be doing the bottom paint that you're going on a lift. Some paints don't like being out of the water for long periods.

 

[HookedUp]

Based on this:
Lastly, should I have anti-fouling paint applied, inasmuch as the boat will be stored on a lift and only used for day trips, and rinsed with fresh water after each daily use?

I'd say you don't need or want anti-fouling paint. I've even left my boat in Virginia Beach waters over the weekend without any growth, but I know if I left it a week it would need to have anti-fouling paint or I'd end up spending a bit of time cleaning it off.

I would have the bottom cleaned up so no growth is left and if is rough after cleaning apply paint to smooth it out, but not anti-fouling as it shouldn't be needed based on what you've said.

 

[DocJoe]

Thank you all for the useful advice.

I am confused about the "vinylester barrier coat." :roll:

The original owner saved the brochure for the R23, and I inherited it. On that brochure, under the heading "Construction" several things are listed, eg, bonded electrical system, fiberglass cockpit liner, fiberglass stringer ... Vinylester barrier coat (hull)."

So, it does look like Ranger Tugs does at some point in time apply or have applied a vinylester barrier coat.

Below "Construction" on the brochure, are listed all the "Additional Factory Options," eg, Aft cockpit sunshade, air conditioning, dockside, etc. Vinylester barrier coat is not mentioned in this list.

So, I assumed the vinylester was a factory standard feature of the boat.

I think I am going to have the bottom cleaned and prepped, and then have a hard bottom paint, like Pettit Vivid, applied in black for cosmetic as well as protective.

Thanks again for the advice and comments.

Joe

 

[Pandion]

I recently had a conversation with Ranger Tugs about this topic.

RT still uses the term "vinylester barrier coat" in their marketing materials but it's not what people usually envision when they hear that phrase. RT manufactures their hulls using vinyl ester resin, so the "barrier coat" is built into the hull, rather than applied over it.

Boats that are manufactured using polyester resin are more susceptible to blistering, so it is common for owners to apply a barrier coat of vinyl ester or epoxy over the gel coat before bottom painting. Some of the "belt-and-suspenders" crowd will barrier coat over vinyl ester hulls just to be on the safe side. If you're certain that you don't have bottom paint, it sounds like a barrier coat may have been applied at some point.

 

[DocJoe]

Thank you. 🙂 🙂