I'm hoping to get to salt water mid-season 2017. What to do about bottom paint and anodes. Was thinking putting zincs on at fresh water launch instead of magnesium, and just another coat of VC17. Any comments appreciated, thanks.
Anodes
- Thread starter wyctoronto
- Start date
Go with aluminum anodes, they work in both fresh and saltwater.
VC17 does not work well in salt water and other bottom paints do not adhere to VC 17. We're planning a similar trip out the St Lawrence from Lake Ontario. Last spring I bit the bullet and removed the VC17. A tiresome job.
Removing the VC17 only and not the underlying barrier coat can only be accomplished by sanding with fairly aggressive sandpaper. In areas where the VC17 is thin and smooth, 80 grit will suffice. In areas where it was built up a more aggressive sandpaper was needed, we used a 36 grit on an random orbital sander attached to a dust collection system. VC17 is essentially a solid copper coating. In areas where the copper has built up, you are removing copper not paint.
We tried various solvents, Acetone, Denatured Alcohol, Xylene, and a few proprietary solvents from different manufacturers with disappointing results. They do work in tight spaces around through hull fittings etc, but mostly they just smear the paint around.
Some have used citrus based paint removers and claimed success. I tried a soy based remover and it just smeared the paint around. It might have worked better if I had tried to remove the barrier coat too, but I wanted to leave the barrier coat as intact as possible.
Sanding left the barrier coat fairly thin in spots, so I added 2 more coats.
Good Luck. If you go with the sanding option, start early. I found it slow going.
VC17 does not work well in salt water and other bottom paints do not adhere to VC 17. We're planning a similar trip out the St Lawrence from Lake Ontario. Last spring I bit the bullet and removed the VC17. A tiresome job.
Removing the VC17 only and not the underlying barrier coat can only be accomplished by sanding with fairly aggressive sandpaper. In areas where the VC17 is thin and smooth, 80 grit will suffice. In areas where it was built up a more aggressive sandpaper was needed, we used a 36 grit on an random orbital sander attached to a dust collection system. VC17 is essentially a solid copper coating. In areas where the copper has built up, you are removing copper not paint.
We tried various solvents, Acetone, Denatured Alcohol, Xylene, and a few proprietary solvents from different manufacturers with disappointing results. They do work in tight spaces around through hull fittings etc, but mostly they just smear the paint around.
Some have used citrus based paint removers and claimed success. I tried a soy based remover and it just smeared the paint around. It might have worked better if I had tried to remove the barrier coat too, but I wanted to leave the barrier coat as intact as possible.
Sanding left the barrier coat fairly thin in spots, so I added 2 more coats.
Good Luck. If you go with the sanding option, start early. I found it slow going.
According to this bottom paint compatibility chart from West Marine you can apply VC Offshore over VC17 with light sanding. VC Offshore is a hard vinyl and should be burnished, so it's more work to apply than VC17. It's OK in fresh water too if it's dived on a regular basis.
I've had it on Dalliance for three full seasons now and expect another three seasons, possibly four, based on other boats I've seen here in Chicago. That was the appeal for me; six or seven years to the next bottom repaint. You, on the other hand, want the VC Offshore because you are headed to salt water soon, which is much more logical.
http://content.westmarine.com/docum...Bottom_Paint_Compatibility_Chart_2012.xls.pdf
I've had it on Dalliance for three full seasons now and expect another three seasons, possibly four, based on other boats I've seen here in Chicago. That was the appeal for me; six or seven years to the next bottom repaint. You, on the other hand, want the VC Offshore because you are headed to salt water soon, which is much more logical.
http://content.westmarine.com/docum...Bottom_Paint_Compatibility_Chart_2012.xls.pdf
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Interesting chart from WM. Interlux seems to have a different idea about compatibility of other paints with VC17. Here's their chart: www.yachtpaint.com/LiteratureCentre/antifouling-compatibility-chart-usa-pro.pdf
The best price I found for sandpaper was at http://www.onlineindustrialsupply.com Don't know if they ship to Canada.
Dave
The best price I found for sandpaper was at http://www.onlineindustrialsupply.com Don't know if they ship to Canada.
Dave
Well that's interesting. They agree on the compatibility of VC17 over VC Offshore, but not on VC Offshore over VC17. Given that Interlux makes both, I would be inclined trust their chart over West Marine's. At over $300/gallon, you want to be sure. Always follow the Mfr's recommendations.