Ablative paint hull prep

[redlinj]

Power washed and scrubbed/sanded my fiberglass hull. When is enough, enough? I rub the hull with my fingers after it ‘s dry and I get quite a dusty coating on them. Do I need to rub down with dry rags to get this off or can I apply the new Pettit HydroCoat now?

 

[Chris1956]

Ablative paint is softer than non ablative paint. So if the non ablative is ready for painting it will work.

Is the hull painted with an epoxy coat? If not check for blisters in the gel coat before painting. If no blisters, and the boat has been in the water for a season, you should be good to go.

 

[redlinj]

Boat is 1982 Grady White. Only bottom paint on it has been ablative. So just to clarify, despite the fact that it rubs off on my fingers, it’s ready to paint over???

 

[Chris1956]

You can put ablative antifouling paint over non-ablative paint or ablative paint.

You cannot put non-ablative paint over ablative paint, or it will fall off.

 

[redlinj]

My concern was and is, about putting a fresh coat of ablative over a coat of basically powered ablative that comes off on your fingers when you rub it! Is this normal after it’s been properly prep? If you say that the new ablative coating will be able to adhere to the old in its present state, then I’m good to go ! Just wanted to be sure!

 

[tpenfield]

Pressure washer should take the dusty stuff off of the hull surface.

You do want clean and dry . . . not dusty.

Also, you really should do a barrier coat before you do the anti-fouling paint.

Interlux Interprotect E2000 is often used as a barrier coat.