New to this forum so please be patient. Recently purchased an O'Day 19. Boat is kept in the water (salt water) and had it hauled out and inspected prior to purchase. Hull is solid with no apparent (at least to me) significant fiberglass issues. On the long list of things "to do" I want to apply a new coat of bottom paint. However, after much research and reading am still somewhat confused about the best process in bottom paint application. Sand or not to sand, remove old paint chemically (paint stripper) or not? Some advice on bottom paint preparation would be very helpful. Thanks to all in advance and rest assured this won't be my first request for help.
And so it begins...
- Thread starter pafb19
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My favorite bottom paint is Super Ship Bottom Ablative bottom paint which is manufactured in Fort Myers FL. http://www.supershipbottom.com/
There are at least two others in my club who use this paint. It can be painted over bare fiberglass because it has it's own primer and it can also be painted over most bottom paints.. It has a higher copper content than most expensive bottom paints and only requires one coat. You could probably get two coats out of one gallon for your boat. When you go on their site you'll learn how to apply it and what to use. They only make one color a month so you need to call first and find out if they have your color in stock. They can ship it by the US Postal services which is cheaper but you'll wait forever to get it. You're better off having them ship it UPS and pay the extra $20 hazardous waste fee they charge.
Years ago when I first started painting the bottom of my boat I didn't know too much about bottom paints and I bought a gallon of West Marine ablative bottom paint that required a primer. After applying the paint, my boat stunk for days and weeks even in the water. August rolled around and my boat was barely moving under sail. The bottom had a thick layer of growth that was so bad that it came off in sheets as I scraped it off with my wide putty knife underwater in a shallow cove. So much for Worst Marine bottom paint. They can keep it.
I painted my hull last year and this year I had enough paint in the gallon bucket left over to spot paint my hull and do all the leading edges and the waterline around my boat. I'm thinking seriously of ordering another gallon in a week or two and painting the bottom in the fall for next year. Good luck with the 19 O'Day.
Joe
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