Barrier Coat. Paint on Trailer?

[Ray Heath]

Hi all,I have quite a few small blisters on the bottom of my boat and would like to put ona barrier coat ovet the winter. What I was thinking was to raise the boat up off of the trailer 4 to six inches byinstalling risers on the trailer bunks. Thouht I wouls build a frame to jack up the boat on the trailer to install these risers. This would better clear the hull from the reailer fram and fenders to work on the bottom.Has anyone tried this?Ray HeathCharlotte, NC

 

[John Dawson]

Barrier coat and trailer

Ray - unless your boat is inside I am not sure applying a barrier coat in winter temperature is a good idea (hint, hint). Its all about ideal conditions for getting a perfect bond. Its hard, expensive, and will fail sooner if not done right. A minor point is that its hard to do this project around an obstacle like a trailer. We have had terrific discussions about lifting boats off their trailers, and those are in the archives. Please try to find them. I think its worth putting the boat on blocks and stands if possible, its a major project and worth some investment.As for lifting, a hoist is easiest. The next best idea is raising the boat/trailer together, blocking the boat up and lowering the trailer down. Good luck.

 

[mrbill]

just finished barrier coat

I just finished sanding off all bottom paint, gelcote, and applied 8 coats of west system, w/ barrier coat additive.I sanded off most of gelcote while on trl., then lifted boat off trl, onto bracing. the archives have several good ideas for lifting boat off trl. I spend probably 120 hrs on this. used 3 gals of west, and 1 gal of bottom paint. probably spent over $500.west is not cheap, and much harder to sand than gelcote. You could sand off most of the gelcote now.... but I agree w/ John, I would probably wait to apply the west epoxy until its 70 degrees or higher.get the west system how-to books, also check sailnet's archives on blisters. (they also have a pretty good online reference)you really want 70-80 degrees to apply the epoxy... I live in s fla, and had to wait until middle of day last month... best of luck!

 

[Ray Heath]

Thanks!

Thanks for the info guys. As much as I hate to wait until spring you are correct that it would be better to wait. I do think it may be good toopen all of the blisters and let things dry out very good over a few months, so the timing may work out. I also am intrested in what bottom paint you all used. I don't need much in the way of anti-fouling, but would like something pretty hard. Epoxy??Thanks again,Ray

 

[John Dawson]

For what use?

I used Interprotect for my barrier coat. But I also use CSC for bottom paint. Its kind of a contradiction because its not really decided from one season to the next how much the boat stays in the water or on the trailer. The paint is for multi-launch multi-season use, and the barrier is for staying wet alot.I wouldn't think you could use an ablative (soft) paint with a planing hull like the 26X. The hard paints are somewhat less effective but you said thats not a big problem. The problem would be if you take it out sometimes, most paints (except CSC) become neutralized.One more thing, its usually important to put your first coat of bottom paint on within the last time 'window' of the barrier process, before it cures. Otherwise paint will have more trouble adhering to the barrier layers. So figure out which bottom paint to use before you start the barrier.