I am hearing conflicting information about bottom paint and would like some guidance. I purchased my boat (O'Day 25) at the end of last season and the previous owner told me that each year he sprays the bottom with a garden hose, and then rolls on another coat of anti-fouling paint. I have lost contact with him, but the paint is a powder-blue color, which comes off on your hands very easily. I'm assuming this is an ablative paint. In his Refinishing book, Don Casey suggests this is the best paint choice for a boat that is hauled out each winter, which is the case with my boat. However, when I called the local sailboat shop to ask about purchasing the paint and the application, the owner told me that he had never heard of someone applying new paint over old without scraping, sanding, etc., He said I should be sanding down to bare hull, applying two coats, and then repeating the process every couple years. Most of the hull remains covered with the blue paint now, although there are a few small places where the hull came into contact with the trailer, etc., that I can see the original hull material. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.
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Micron CSC?
Sounds like you may have Micron CSC on the hull. You should be able to apply as needed, after power washing, if white or grey is showing through. Paininting every year could cause a build-up.
Sounds like you may have Micron CSC on the hull. You should be able to apply as needed, after power washing, if white or grey is showing through. Paininting every year could cause a build-up.
Ablative antifouling paint...
I've been using Pettit Horizons. I get if from West Marine. Steve O is right on, it could be Micron CSC, it works pretty much the same. Here is a product quote from West Marine's web site about Horizons: "Affordable ablative antifouling paint that provides multi-season protection. Provides all the benefits of an ablative antifouling: self-polishing surface, no paint build-up, no sanding between seasons." Micron CSC says pretty much the same thing. I power wash the bottom when I haul her out in the Fall and acid wash the water line before scrubbing her down and applying a new coat of wax before Winter. Power washing her blows off any scum on the bottom paint and it is easy to get off when she is fresh out of the water. I roll on a new coat every couple of years, when she seems to be wearing thin, before launching her in the Spring. I've never sanded her. I'm in fresh water for what that is worth. No blisters or flaking, she is still as smooth as she was when she was new. I used to have an O'Day. I treated her bottom the same way. That 25 is a great family boat. Enjoy her.
I've been using Pettit Horizons. I get if from West Marine. Steve O is right on, it could be Micron CSC, it works pretty much the same. Here is a product quote from West Marine's web site about Horizons: "Affordable ablative antifouling paint that provides multi-season protection. Provides all the benefits of an ablative antifouling: self-polishing surface, no paint build-up, no sanding between seasons." Micron CSC says pretty much the same thing. I power wash the bottom when I haul her out in the Fall and acid wash the water line before scrubbing her down and applying a new coat of wax before Winter. Power washing her blows off any scum on the bottom paint and it is easy to get off when she is fresh out of the water. I roll on a new coat every couple of years, when she seems to be wearing thin, before launching her in the Spring. I've never sanded her. I'm in fresh water for what that is worth. No blisters or flaking, she is still as smooth as she was when she was new. I used to have an O'Day. I treated her bottom the same way. That 25 is a great family boat. Enjoy her.
I have Micron CSC (ablative)...
...I have three coats. My first coat (nearest the hull) is red. This is my "marker" coat. The next two coats are blue. When I see the red show thru, I know that it wearing thin. I'll touch up these areas (usually "wear" edges like front of rudder or keel) and any chipped areas. I use my judgement when I decide to paint the whole bottom. Seasonally, ablative paint only needs to be "roughed up" in order to activate the paint antifouling properties before launch.
...I have three coats. My first coat (nearest the hull) is red. This is my "marker" coat. The next two coats are blue. When I see the red show thru, I know that it wearing thin. I'll touch up these areas (usually "wear" edges like front of rudder or keel) and any chipped areas. I use my judgement when I decide to paint the whole bottom. Seasonally, ablative paint only needs to be "roughed up" in order to activate the paint antifouling properties before launch.
Hard
The information you are getting from the yard if typical of a hard coat paint not ablative. An ablative paint is cleaned and painted over, the more coats the better as it wears off during the year.
The information you are getting from the yard if typical of a hard coat paint not ablative. An ablative paint is cleaned and painted over, the more coats the better as it wears off during the year.
Best thing since sliced bread
Ablative paint is way cool. I have used both the Micron CSC and the West Marine house brand of multi-season ablative. No discernable difference to me in wearability or performance. Both were excellent. Some touch up at high wear areas after year one with both brands, but no barnacles or growth. Buy whichever is on sale. I have read that if your boat sits at the dock for most of the season, you are better off with the epoxy (hard shell) paint as the ablative needs to be worn away to work. One season, I used my boat only about 10 times, and there was still no growth.
Ablative paint is way cool. I have used both the Micron CSC and the West Marine house brand of multi-season ablative. No discernable difference to me in wearability or performance. Both were excellent. Some touch up at high wear areas after year one with both brands, but no barnacles or growth. Buy whichever is on sale. I have read that if your boat sits at the dock for most of the season, you are better off with the epoxy (hard shell) paint as the ablative needs to be worn away to work. One season, I used my boat only about 10 times, and there was still no growth.
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