About how long can I leave my boat in the water without bottom paint? I know that it depends on the water conditions and location but has anyone left it in for a month at a time or more without damage or blisters to the hull other than a good cleaning afterwards.
Without bottom paint
- Thread starter Brian Buzz
- Start date
No barrier paint. Factory bottom and I would like to keep it that way if I can get a month in the water this summer without damage.
Macs don't have the thickest gelcoat. I would not assume it is an effective barrier to water getting into the fiberglass
We sailed our Catalina 22 on a freshwater lake, left it in from Memorial Day to Labor Day for a few years, had to do a lot of cleaning- used a special service at the lake like an underwater car wash.
Left it in for a few weekends, longest a week in saltwater, never tried any longer.
Bigger question: why do you ask?
Oceanside California ? Why not have a diver clean it once while it's in the water, otherwise there's a worm leaves a white casting that may not come off without scraping after a month.
This time of year slime starts in a couple days, dark green short growth on the sunny side within a week, 12-18 inches long bright green weed within a month, if the boat isn't moving a lot.
This time of year slime starts in a couple days, dark green short growth on the sunny side within a week, 12-18 inches long bright green weed within a month, if the boat isn't moving a lot.
Blisters or no, you will absolutely regret leaving the boat in the water without anti fouling paint for any appreciable length of time.
As previous posters mentioned, it all depends on water quality and temperature. last year I left my hunter in the water for 2.5 months, with no antifouling paint I don't think antifouling prevents blisters. Anyway when I pulled the boat out for the winter the bottom was a brown and slimy, drove to a carwash and used the soap brush cleaned it off nicely. This year I'm going to leave it in the water longer and I think I will put some antifouling paint on.
You're in a (presumably) cold freshwater lake. Apples and oranges. Leaving a boat in relatively warm saltwater (the OP is in Southern California) is really a poor decision and I guarantee that a soapy brush wouldn't do the job.
