bottom paint

[Erbardy]

Going to apply VC17 bottom paint to our new to us catalina 30. How much do you guys use. The prior owner said two quarts whoich seems like a lot to me. He also said that he alternates between original and blue every year to assure that he sees full coverage. Does that seem right to you guys??

I had two prior sailboats but did not user VC 17. So this product is new to me.

 

[jon hansen]

VC 17 is no longer made, i believe

 

[FastOlson]

I used VC17 for a decade on our prior boat, and added a new coat every other year. Fresh water use. I did have a diver wipe off the slime several times during warm summers. Two quarts seems OK for a boat like yours with a lot of wetted surface. Note that you need to apply a couple coats (it goes on ridiculously thin) for the whole bottom, and a couple more for the part just below the water line stripe and down about a foot or two, and also for the rudder blade. Work fast when you pour it into the roller pan, after vigorously stirring. It settles fast. It flashes off very fast also. I would keep a piece of tin-foil over the pan when not putting the roller in it. It dries so fast that you can watch it dry about 3 feet behind the roller.... !

 

[Davidasailor26]

VC 17 is no longer made, i believe

The original formula with Irgarol biocide was discontinued, but after being reformulated VC17m is now available again.

 

[dlochner]

VC 17 is still available without the slime preventing biocide.

The first time it is used figure 2 coats. On a 30 foot boat it will take about 1 can per coat. Go heavy on the leading edges and high wear area and lighter on the flatter areas.

VC 17 will evaporate quickly. When I used it, I would put the paint into a squirt bottle (ketchup or water sport bottle) and squeeze it on the roller before applying. If you pour it into a roller pan, much of it will evaporate before it hits the hull.

VC 17m Thin Film and Fast Finish Antifouling Boat Paint | Interlux

VC 17m is a friction reducing, low drag, high performance antifouling paint. Its fluoro-microadditive results in a thin, super smooth racing finish.

www.interlux.com

 

[stickinthemud57]

Is there currently any bottom paint on the boat? Some bottom coatings can't be applied over others. Prudence would dictate removal of any existing bottom coat, I would think.

The next question is; is there any barrier coating currently on the boat? Interlux recommends application of 5 coats of Interprotect epoxy paint, sanded smooth, before application of any anti-fouling coat. This is to prevent moisture from migrating through the VC and causing blistering of the gel coat.

There is a lot of information on the use of this paint at VC 17m Thin Film and Fast Finish Antifouling Boat Paint | Interlux, including data sheets, compatibility guides, application guides, etc. It looks to me like the product is still available.

Of course, if there is currently any pitting you will want to fill that with the appropriate product. Interlux has a nice, expensive product for every step of the way.

I would not worry to much about having some left over. Interlux recommends recoating after the first year then every two years thereafter. I found that mine kept fine in my bedroom closet for two years. Two quarts was enough for the initial 2 coats, the first year recoat, and this season's touch-up on my 26-footer.

 

[Richard Bryer]

Two quarts sounds right- I used 2.5 quarts on my Hunter 34. I suck to the same color each year

 

[Dalliance]

Two quarts per coat is what it takes to cover my 30 foot boat.
Mix it in a jar or bottle you can keep closed and pour out just enough to load the roller. Pour out too much and it will flash off before you can use it. Apply it on a cool day with no wind if you can. It will flash off almost instantly on a hot windy day.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

1.5 quarts was used to apply two layers on my 25 footer. It's a strange paint to apply but you'll figure out a strategy fairly quickly. I've used mixed, partial cans for touch ups a year later. Just make sure it's sealed up good

 

[Dalliance]

1.5 quarts was used to apply two layers on my 25 footer. It's a strange paint to apply but you'll figure out a strategy fairly quickly. I've used mixed, partial cans for touch ups a year later. Just make sure it's sealed up good

Good point about left over paint. Reminds me that in my yacht yard you can leave a partial can of mixed VC-17 on the cradle under the boat for the yard crew to apply to the underside of the keel just before splash.

 

[quadrille38]

Two quarts per coat is what it takes to cover my 30 foot boat.
Mix it in a jar or bottle you can keep closed and pour out just enough to load the roller. Pour out too much and it will flash off before you can use it. Apply it on a cool day with no wind if you can. It will flash off almost instantly on a hot windy day.

Don‘t pour paint out into the roller pan, purchase one of those empty condiment bottles from the store and pour paint into it. Squirt only as much as you need on roller for each roll. Avoids evaporative loss And paint goes a lot further.

 

[Tally Ho]

Don‘t pour paint out into the roller pan, purchase one of those empty condiment bottles from the store and pour paint into it. Squirt only as much as you need on roller for each roll. Avoids evaporative loss And paint goes a lot further.

I mix mine in a clean, large mouth plastic container. Makes it a lot easier to mix in the copper powder, put the lid on, and shake it up.

When I apply, I pour out small amounts of paint in a small roller pan. As noted, this stuff evaporates VERY fast, especially on a hot or windy day.

The good news is, it dries just as fast…I keep a little in the container so I can touch up the Jack stand pad area when I launch the boat…slap the paint on while boat is hanging in the slings, and it is dry before the boat gets wet.

Greg

 

[Tally Ho]

2 quarts is probably about right. I use the same color, and I only do a full paint job every other year, and just tough up high wear areas on the off year.

I keep any leftover paint in a sealed container, and can use it the next year for the touch up.

Greg

 

[Dalliance]

I mix mine in a clean, large mouth plastic container. Makes it a lot easier to mix in the copper powder, put the lid on, and shake it up.

When I apply, I pour out small amounts of paint in a small roller pan. As noted, this stuff evaporates VERY fast, especially on a hot or windy day.

The good news is, it dries just as fast…I keep a little in the container so I can touch up the Jack stand pad area when I launch the boat…slap the paint on while boat is hanging in the slings, and it is dry before the boat gets wet.

Greg

I just switched to VC-17 last spring. Applied it over VC Off-Shore, which is the only bottom paint you can put VC-17 over. Anyway, I used glass Tostitos Salsa jars for mixing & pouring because I was concerned the VC-17 solvent might dissolve plastic containers. From the comments here, it appears that is not the case. So I have more options for mixing/application containers next time.

 

[stickinthemud57]

Along the lines of what materials can tolerate VC17M, I used the cheap plastic mini-roller trays and smooth-finish mini-rollers available from the local big-box stores when I applied mine.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Good point about left over paint. Reminds me that in my yacht yard you can leave a partial can of mixed VC-17 on the cradle under the boat for the yard crew to apply to the underside of the keel just before splash.

Which yard are you at if you don't mind me asking?

I use some 6" wide plastic containers with a lid from Dollar Tree. It's much easier to mix in the copper in a larger container. They keep the paint for almost a year. I suggest pouring the unused paint back into the original container as the ones from Dollar Tree don't have the best seal

 

[Barnacle Bill]

VC17m is a single season paint and should be applied annually if you pull the boat out of the water in the winter. Like all cuprous oxide paints, when the hull dries a chemical action takes place that renders the paint not so effective - hence a recoat is required. Not the best paint for those who trailer in and out of the water. Two coats are what is recommended and to leave space for the powdered biocide, the can is not topped off when you open it. No sanding required between coats. No build up. I dries so fast that when they lift your boat off the cradle to launch, you can quickly paint where the pads touched the hull and the bottom of the keel and then launch immediately.

 

[Parsons]

As others have said, this stuff has the volatility of acetone, so you get seconds to work with it. Mix the copper powder in the can like Nestle's quik, and if you breath any of the powder in it will be like sucking on a few pennies. Pour the resulting slurry into a ketchup bottle that you can buy empty from the dollar store. I had a helper (thanks honey) who would keep her finger over the ketchup bottle and give it a shake and squirt a load onto the roller. I'd roll like hell for 15 seconds to spread it as far as I could, and it would be dry. Repeat.

A couple quarts sounds about right. You are going for thin and max coverage with little left on your tools or body. Speaking of body, ventilation is critical. If you do this inside, at least have a fan but not facing directly at your work. Even then, once you finish with the boat you will be high as a kite and probably have a headache after. Outside on a cool, windless day is best. The next season, give it a rub with steel wool to make it smooth and re-coat.

 

[Dalliance]

Which yard are you at if you don't mind me asking?

I use some 6" wide plastic containers with a lid from Dollar Tree. It's much easier to mix in the copper in a larger container. They keep the paint for almost a year. I suggest pouring the unused paint back into the original container as the ones from Dollar Tree don't have the best seal

I‘ve stored at Canal Street Marina since 2006. Have always been treated well there.

A larger container is best. My Tostitos Salsa jars weren’t ideal because they don’t hold a whole quart. Had to do the initial mix in the can, then pour half into the jar for shaking and dispensing. Will buy cheap right sized plastic containers for the job next time.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Don‘t pour paint out into the roller pan, purchase one of those empty condiment bottles from the store and pour paint into it. Squirt only as much as you need on roller for each roll.

Do you know if the paint will react with the plastic over a winter?

I buy small metal paint cans from a local company, and use those for any leftovers so that i can have multiple 100% full containers, thereby preventing evaporation.

I wonder if I can use the plastic bottle as a storage container instead of the metal cans ?

I think a call to interlux is in order.