Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

[F14CRAZY]

Boat in question is my Bayliner Capri...

Before last season I added a few coats of Interlux Interprotect epoxy barrier coat along with 3 coats of West Marine CCP ablative bottom paint, in blue if it matters. Was slipped in the Grand River from June till October.

I didn't do anything as far as maintenance last season to the bottom and it seemed to have kept most algae growth off. There was a little bit but it came off after power washing. It has been sitting on its trailer since. Sure looked better than my neighbor's 20' Regal without paint or a barrier coat (I did warn them about blisters).

Do I have to sand it and give it a couple new coats? I don't think it went bare in any places and I didn't run the boat a whole lot so I don't think much paint has ablated. This paint is not a "multi-season" though. Will it not do its job if I don't coat it again? I haven't had experience with bottom paint before last season.

Thanks

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

Ablative bottom paint is meant to wear away, constantly giving off the chemicals (copper/zinc) that inhibit growth. After a year or two, the coat wears prettyl thin. You would be better served doing a minimal prep and applying 2 more coats of the identical paint. If you want to change brands or colors, then you'll have to completely strip, prep, and repaint.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

Thanks for the reply

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

I get two years, almost three out of the paint--of course, you may be in different conditions. I'd try it without repainting. That stuff is expensive.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

I bought a gallon for the boat and still have over half the bucket left so cost aside from a new roller cover or two is close to zero, but if I truly don't have to I have little desire to roll it on lol

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

Just to **** off the neighbors a little more, do a single quick coat so it looks fresh going into the season.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

My knowledge may be 'dated' to older paint technology, so I don't know if it is still valid for today's ablative bottom paints. That being said, .... Ablative bottom paints need to be applied a short period of time prior to launching so that they do not fully dry, otherwise they do not wear off. (It used to say right on the can 'apply x number of hours before launching' for just this reason.) If this is still the situation with ablatives then yes you will need to re-apply, - they are no longer effective after winter storage.
Also, it sounds like you are in fresh water which also changes things. Maybe someone can let me know if this is still valid for today's paints. -- Thanks

 

[angleness]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

I get two years, almost three out of the paint--of course, you may be in different conditions. I'd try it without repainting. That stuff is expensive.

yes,i agree with you .

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

I would wait a year also. I always got 2 or 3 seasons out of my bottom paint while boating on Lake St. Clair in Michigan and never had any problems.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

My knowledge may be 'dated' to older paint technology, so I don't know if it is still valid for today's ablative bottom paints. That being said, .... Ablative bottom paints need to be applied a short period of time prior to launching so that they do not fully dry, otherwise they do not wear off. (It used to say right on the can 'apply x number of hours before launching' for just this reason.) If this is still the situation with ablatives then yes you will need to re-apply, - they are no longer effective after winter storage.
Also, it sounds like you are in fresh water which also changes things. Maybe someone can let me know if this is still valid for today's paints. -- Thanks

Ned, I remember back in the day the "red lead" was like that, and you also couldn't pull the boat out mid-season for a week or two. While they still make that kind of paint (you'd put it on a big boat that stays moored) the more popular, newer paints, for this reason, let you let it dry over and over. So I could paint mine in April and launch, pull it out in October, go in and out from the trailer a few times, then launch for the summer the following spring--all on the same paint.

Also, b/c they are ablative, be careful washing/scrubbing the paint.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

F14, If the growth was nil or slight, upon the last haul out, you can skip any repainting. However, I find the transom and sides of the boat get the most growth, and I end up scrubbing more of the paint off. So I usually end up painting them and the keel area in the bow, as a mimimum.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

Thank you Home cookin! Yep, those were the cuprous oxide paints.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Recoating ablative bottom paint...do I have to?

Thanks guys. I now remember that I should touch up a spot on the transom where some gas touched it and took some off (was refueling on the trailer) but otherwise it sounds like recoating is not necessarily necessary

Just to **** off the neighbors a little more, do a single quick coat so it looks fresh going into the season.

They're pretty friendly but I still like your idea