another bottom paint question

[mattttt25]

did the search thing, but still have questions.<br /><br />plan to keep my 20' fiberglass in the water this year. not sure what my plans are after that, the navy simply won't tell me.<br /><br />questions as follows:<br /><br />1. can i paint the bottom without sanding? if i decide to keep it trailered after this year, i'd like to get the paint off. if i paint without sanding, i reason that i could get the paint off and gelcoat would survive. i know sanding first is the proper method, but i need to just get by for a summer or two.<br /><br />2. any suggestions on brand of paint? no problem spending a few extra dollars.<br /><br />3. do i have to prime? i read a few posts that said no.<br /><br />4. ever hear of anti-fouling wax? another post i found stated the guy used anti-fouling wax on the bottom, and got away with no paint at all. just pulled it once a month and cleaned/re-applied.<br /><br />thanks fellas, this is the first of many questions as i approach the season. appreciate the help-

 

[Mikedg]

Re: another bottom paint question

Matt:<br /><br />If you're not 100% certain that you want the bottom painted, don't do it. The bottom must be sanded before you paint. Once that's done you will always have to keep the bottom painted. In the mean time try one of the anti-fowling waxes such as Easy-On Bottom Wax.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: another bottom paint question

i really don't want to deal with painting, but it may be necessary if i want to keep the boat in the chesapeake bay all season.<br /><br />i found the easy-on boat coating by boat armor on the web. sounds like a miracle product. anyone know if it really works? would hate to learn the lesson myself.

 

[crab bait]

Re: another bottom paint question

MATTTT..if you sand 'er down,, an keep it in the bay,, then you must paint... or it'll be an osmosis experiment..<br /><br />somethin' that important ,, don't come easy,fast ,or cheap... <br /><br />after you paint,, check out a product from WEST MARINE..called ez slide,,or glide.. or some cottonpickin' name.. you'll be VERY impressed..

 

[mattttt25]

Re: another bottom paint question

i don't want to sand or paint. and i'm wondering if i really have to. this easy-on wax stuff has me real curious...

 

[mattttt25]

Re: another bottom paint question

^

 

[crab bait]

Re: another bottom paint question

this wax,, what name ?? who makes it..??

 

[mattttt25]

Re: another bottom paint question

brand- boat armor<br />name- easy-on boat coating<br /><br />saw west marine selling it, advertises as a wax that substitutes for bottom paint in low to moderate fouling waters.<br /><br />also saw reference to a product called 'super slick boat wax' that claims to work the same.<br /><br />???

 

[AndyL]

Re: another bottom paint question

I was once told that if you lightly greased the propellers and shafts on an inboard motor then weed and fouling would not attach... Tried it and was totally amazed at how quick it did not work.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: another bottom paint question

so i guess no one has experience with this supposed super wax.<br /><br />how about my previous question- can i get away with bottom painting without sanding? again, the reasoning would be that in a year or so i could remove the paint and still have the gelcoat survive.

 

[AndyL]

Re: another bottom paint question

I really believe that to get a quality paint finish or adhesion 90% of the work is in proper preparation. If you want a bottom finish that will last you will have to key the surface of the gel by abrading with 80grit wet and dry sandpaper then apply 5 coats of anti osmosis epoxy coating (International GelShield or West equivalent) then before that has time to cure fully apply 2 coats of a hard type antifouling paint. After that every year use a softer antifoul that can be scrubbed off at the end of the season. In the high speed catamarans that I had experience of we used a coating called Intersleek which is horriffically expensive and requires multiple coats of differing primers before application. Intersleek is apparently a Silicone coating that is easily mechanically damaged but is so slippery that weed and fouling cannot adhere to it. I believe International Paints have a version intended for the pleasure boat market. However I still think you are better to stick to an Anti Osmosis barrier paint and a more conventional anti fouling if you intend to keep your boat afloat and own it for years.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: another bottom paint question

andy, thanks for the info. you obviously know more about this topic than i do.<br /><br />but my situation is a bit different. i need to bottom paint to keep my boat in the water for only a year, two max. after that, i will probably want it off as i will go back to trailering.<br /><br />i'm not worried about having a protected hull that lasts for 15 years in saltwater. i just want the minimal protection to last a few seasons, and then be able to get that paint off and not have to replace a gelcoat.<br /><br />thoughts?

 

[crab bait]

Re: another bottom paint question

pretty cool info there ANDY... i never heard of or thought of applyin' anti-foul paint to un-cured epoxy.. sounds interestin'.. <br /><br />excuse my ignorance,, but what country are you from..??

 

[Solittle]

Re: another bottom paint question

matt - If the Navy has a piece of you that tells me that they could tell you that you would be going bye bye for an extended period. I would think you would not want to leave your boat in the water while you were gone no matter what kind of coating you put on. Soooo why not preserve the gel coat and either use a trailer or put it in an in/out yard.<br /><br />The hull on my boat was painted with anti-fouling paint before I got it and it looks like crap plus adds to the drag. I wish the prior owner had not done it but I had no choice. You do.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: another bottom paint question

my F/in law sold his 32" troller last summer,<br /> ... straight 6 ford deisel..hmmmmm.<br />had it for many years in Long Beach, CA.<br />he had a piece of plastic that covered his dock<br />space that was low enough to pull in. he then<br />pulled up the back of the plastic around the<br />stern, trapping in a small amount of water, tossed<br />in a floating "pool" chlorine floating tablet.<br />wonder if that's legal?

 

[mattttt25]

Re: another bottom paint question

solittle- the navy does own me, but my current situation has me here in annapolis for a few years, unless we decide to go fight 5 wars. bottom line is the boat is going in the water for atleast this season. its free and convienent. but i won't always have this situation, and will want to trailer it again.<br /><br />with little info, i think i will just paint without sanding and hope for the best. if i need to completely paint each year, thats fine. atleast i didn't ruin the gelcoat. thanks for the help guys-

 

[AndyL]

Re: another bottom paint question

Mattt<br />I think a solution would be to leave the hull untouched. what you would have to do is pull the boat out once a month and clean the hull. If you spray it with a bleach solution first most of the fouling will just fall off. Here in the Channel Islands we have a tidal range of 10metres so drying a boat out for an hour or two over low water is easy to effect this clean,but I assume you would have some sort of cost efficient method of getting your boat out to do the same thing. Going back to the antifoul over epoxy, it is what is recommended as it acts as a primer while curing and the two bond together very strongly. If you leave epoxy too long it gets extremely hard and inert and it would be difficult to get anything other than more epoxy to bond to it. If you go down this road just ensure there are not too many environmental exclusions on using bleach. We use it discreetly and it certainly saves a lot of time and effort and will not damage the hull or fittings.

 

[AndyL]

Re: another bottom paint question

Apologies Crab Bait, <br />Guernsey is a little outcrop in the middle of the English Channel. Close in to France.