Bottom Help NOW!!!

[Vitaminsea]

Ok, Now that I have spent at least 20+ hours of scraping down 12 years of paint to the original gel coat, now what? . Since my marina offered to do the job for $4500 (this leaves me with a lot of questions!, what should I do in order to maximize the benifets of this "from start" effort? I need answers ASAP! Help!~!!!!

 

[Aldo Lozano-WA2IST]

$4500!!!

To do what... Cover it with gold? Can you be more specific?Where you have the boat in Jersey? Must to be very close to the bay (Raritan).Unless you are the new owner of the Queen Mary, perhaps...I am doing mine (Hun27) and with sand blasting including is under 700...Regards...Aldoalozano@monmouth.com

 

[Ernie Rodriguez]

Interlux 2000

Consider using the Interlux 2000 system, or the West System, or something similar, to protect the gell coat from blisters, before you put the bottom paint on.

 

[Marc Honey]

Bottom Job

Wow, at $4500,a pop I might just start doing them again!!! I always said I spent more on beer than I saved when I did my own work, but at those prices,I may have a new career! Anyway, that sounds a little too high. You do need to specify the size of your boat, that might help a little. If you're down to gelcoat, I'd definitely apply an epoxy barrier coat and then roll on bottom paint. My 28.5 only cost $2400 or so to do a full tilt 2-3 coat epoxy barrier and then 2-3 coats of bottom paint.As I said, it would help to know what length we're talking about here.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Only 20 hours!?

You are a lucky man. Took me much longer than that last Spring(37 feet). Then put on five coats of Interlux 2000E, thick. Problem is the timing between coats, both personal and weather. But if you miss the next coat you can either lightly sand or treat it before you start rolling again. Then three coats of Trinidad SR. Just splashed this past Thursday. Did not have to touch the bottom this year! Last year's cost? About $650.

 

[Sam Lust]

Bottom Blast

I was quoted $17.00 per foot of water line length plus materials for sand blasting the hull by the company most of the marinas in the area use. I bought a Harbor Freight sand blaster and did my 33 myself in my yard. About 900 pounds of sand. About $150 for the blaster and spare parts and about $50 for the sand. The only major expenditure was time and this was mis winter when there wasn't much else I could do on the boat. Will finish off with 5 or so coats of Interprotect and 4 or 5 coats of Micron. Total materials cost about $1350 not considering labor. I know how much work is involved and while pricy I'm not sure I'd do it for $4500 You're still better off doing it yourself. Feeling of intimacy with the boat and all that. Makes you appreciate it more.

 

[Tim McCarty]

Sam's on the right track...

I just talked to a guy in my marina who had a painting company come in and sand blast his bottom for $250.00. He then applied a barrier coat and VC. I've got to strip my bottom next year...will probably go this route...Good Luck!