This spring our boat received a new bottom job with Interlux ablative paint (the stuff with the biocide for slime). Our area is prone to quick growth (especially slime), and I was wondering whether diving and scrubbing the growth (especially on the rudder and around the skirt) would wear away the paint. I want the paint to last as long as possible, but I want to keep the bottom clean as well (for performance reasons). If it is alright to dive in and clean it, should I use a simple brush and a sponge ? Also, when we do our annual haulout and inspection next spring, is it okay to have the yard pressure wash the bottom even with the ablative paint ? Will this decrease the life expectancy ? THANKS !
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Brian Conneely
same issue...
My waters are also prone to fast slime growth...and as if that wasn't enough I only sail on weekends which equates to slime buildup. Once this occurs the ablative paint is no longer exposed and won't wash away to continually expose a new layer. This usually isnt an issue with regular usage but as in my case the net result is more slime. I think the only way to combat this is to do as you said and lightly scrub the slime away to expose new paint (using a soft brush). Also, after haul out a good rinse with a garden hose should be enough to the take the slime off as long as it is done before the the algae dries...if you or the yard wait a few days you're in trouble. brian conneely h23 kickin' back
My waters are also prone to fast slime growth...and as if that wasn't enough I only sail on weekends which equates to slime buildup. Once this occurs the ablative paint is no longer exposed and won't wash away to continually expose a new layer. This usually isnt an issue with regular usage but as in my case the net result is more slime. I think the only way to combat this is to do as you said and lightly scrub the slime away to expose new paint (using a soft brush). Also, after haul out a good rinse with a garden hose should be enough to the take the slime off as long as it is done before the the algae dries...if you or the yard wait a few days you're in trouble. brian conneely h23 kickin' back
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R. Young
Choices
If you periodically scrub the bottom then you will definitly remove the buildup and you will also definitly wear away - more - the ablative paint. I dont scrub & at the seasons end all I see is a light mud like coating that easily comes off when touched, i.e., it doesn't build up. This is find for me and I can skip a year between paint jobs. There are tradeoffs and the choice is yours. As far as power washing at seasons end, I have not noticed any significant reduction and this power washing definitly cuts down your labor. R. Young Hunter 37 - Destiny
If you periodically scrub the bottom then you will definitly remove the buildup and you will also definitly wear away - more - the ablative paint. I dont scrub & at the seasons end all I see is a light mud like coating that easily comes off when touched, i.e., it doesn't build up. This is find for me and I can skip a year between paint jobs. There are tradeoffs and the choice is yours. As far as power washing at seasons end, I have not noticed any significant reduction and this power washing definitly cuts down your labor. R. Young Hunter 37 - Destiny
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Ray
Same here
I'm on the Chesapeake and have to do the same... just light scrub during the season and when haul out time comes I have it pressure washed. Usually by then it is in need of a repaint. My first coat i put on red and after that I put on Blue, once I start showing red I know it is ready to be hauled again. Very little prep required using the ablative as long as you don't wait for all the paint to wear off.
I'm on the Chesapeake and have to do the same... just light scrub during the season and when haul out time comes I have it pressure washed. Usually by then it is in need of a repaint. My first coat i put on red and after that I put on Blue, once I start showing red I know it is ready to be hauled again. Very little prep required using the ablative as long as you don't wait for all the paint to wear off.
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Michael
I was expecting a little more than 1 season
We did the same process when painting ours, black on bottom with two coats of blue so when black shows we know it is time to repaint. We were hoping to get a little more than 1 season with our new paint job though, 2 or an optomistic 3 seasons. This is our first experience with ablative paint, is our expectation realistic ?
We did the same process when painting ours, black on bottom with two coats of blue so when black shows we know it is time to repaint. We were hoping to get a little more than 1 season with our new paint job though, 2 or an optomistic 3 seasons. This is our first experience with ablative paint, is our expectation realistic ?
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Alan
Cleaning
I've been racing with Micron CSC for 5 years now. I only use white because it shows the slime more easily and it takes longer to build up. We spray 2 gallons on in the spring with wet sanding after it dries. For the rest of the season I dive the bottom every 2 weeks with just a mild darkening of the white. I only use a soft sponge to wipe and hardly any pressure. The entire process takes 45 min. and leaves a perfectly clean bottom. At haulout there is plenty of paint left and power washing does nothing to the paint.
I've been racing with Micron CSC for 5 years now. I only use white because it shows the slime more easily and it takes longer to build up. We spray 2 gallons on in the spring with wet sanding after it dries. For the rest of the season I dive the bottom every 2 weeks with just a mild darkening of the white. I only use a soft sponge to wipe and hardly any pressure. The entire process takes 45 min. and leaves a perfectly clean bottom. At haulout there is plenty of paint left and power washing does nothing to the paint.
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John V.
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Michael
Alan; RE: How long in years ?
So you must apply 2 or 3 coats in the spring right? When you say "plenty" of paint left, does that mean you hold off painting again till next spring (get 2 years out of it)? Does the type of waters a boat is kept in determine the life expectancy as well? Thanks !
So you must apply 2 or 3 coats in the spring right? When you say "plenty" of paint left, does that mean you hold off painting again till next spring (get 2 years out of it)? Does the type of waters a boat is kept in determine the life expectancy as well? Thanks !
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Michael
Ablative paint mid-season care
I use micron CSC. My maintenance plan is scrub with a long deck brush at least every two weeks and dive to clean the hard to reach places every month. Since I have owned my boat for four years I have tried to stretch my bottom painting to every other year. The only problem is the second year growth is more pronounced and I have to dive to clean the boat more frequently. The water is cold in March and November.
I use micron CSC. My maintenance plan is scrub with a long deck brush at least every two weeks and dive to clean the hard to reach places every month. Since I have owned my boat for four years I have tried to stretch my bottom painting to every other year. The only problem is the second year growth is more pronounced and I have to dive to clean the boat more frequently. The water is cold in March and November.
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Gerry Journeau
Ablative paint
To get true multi-season use you have to apply more paint than most people usually do.Most people who use a tracer coat of a different color cheap out and use one coat, then two coats of another color. When the tracer coat shows thru they re-paint. The complaint is that they only got one season out of it. Well, two coats is usally the manufacturers recommendation, but that's really just a minimum application to assure that it will do it's job for the season. Also, because it's usually fairly expensive, I've seen many folks roll it out to thin to save having to buy that extra gallon. A better way to achieve true multi season life is to put on two coats of the tracer color not rolled out to thin, then three or four coats of finish color at suitable thickness, not overly rolled out. This may seem expensive at first but think about it. Four coats adequately applied should yield two seasons before you really start to see the tracer coat and at this point the tracer coat if applied adequately should take you thru the third season. After all, isn't this why you bought this product so you wouldn't have to paint your bottom every year? I'm always amazed when my customers complain about paying for the extra paint, but theyr'e even more amazed when they thank me the next season that they don't have to do the bottom again.
To get true multi-season use you have to apply more paint than most people usually do.Most people who use a tracer coat of a different color cheap out and use one coat, then two coats of another color. When the tracer coat shows thru they re-paint. The complaint is that they only got one season out of it. Well, two coats is usally the manufacturers recommendation, but that's really just a minimum application to assure that it will do it's job for the season. Also, because it's usually fairly expensive, I've seen many folks roll it out to thin to save having to buy that extra gallon. A better way to achieve true multi season life is to put on two coats of the tracer color not rolled out to thin, then three or four coats of finish color at suitable thickness, not overly rolled out. This may seem expensive at first but think about it. Four coats adequately applied should yield two seasons before you really start to see the tracer coat and at this point the tracer coat if applied adequately should take you thru the third season. After all, isn't this why you bought this product so you wouldn't have to paint your bottom every year? I'm always amazed when my customers complain about paying for the extra paint, but theyr'e even more amazed when they thank me the next season that they don't have to do the bottom again.
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Alan
Sorry for the late responce
My boat is 35' and its not really fair to say 'scrub' the bottom. It really does take a very light single wipe with a sponge and its clean. As a result, not a lot of paint is removed. Yes cleaning time is about 45 minutes. Again the reason is that I'm not scrubbing. Wipping with a sponge as you swim takes very little time. First I swim the waterline wipping down about 3'. Next I swim upside down from stern to bow each side of the center line. This requires 3 stops for air on each side. Last I do the keel and rudder. Two air stops for each side of the keel and one for the rudder, done. Yes I do spray new paint every year and then wet sand to 400. A fast bottom thats easy to maitain.
My boat is 35' and its not really fair to say 'scrub' the bottom. It really does take a very light single wipe with a sponge and its clean. As a result, not a lot of paint is removed. Yes cleaning time is about 45 minutes. Again the reason is that I'm not scrubbing. Wipping with a sponge as you swim takes very little time. First I swim the waterline wipping down about 3'. Next I swim upside down from stern to bow each side of the center line. This requires 3 stops for air on each side. Last I do the keel and rudder. Two air stops for each side of the keel and one for the rudder, done. Yes I do spray new paint every year and then wet sand to 400. A fast bottom thats easy to maitain.
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