I own a Hunter 265 and wondered if Hunter provided a Barrier coat to prevent de-lamination. I dont have know problem but was curious. Also do I have to perform any preventative maintenance on my below waterline hull? My boat is fresh water and bottom was painted six years ago. How often should the bottom be painted?
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Probably not.
The likelihood John is it was never barrier-coated. Certainly not by Hunter. But you can easily check. Take a spot low on the hull and with a screwdriver scrape away some bottompaint. The anti-fouling paint will scrape off very easily, do not force it. If you find smooth white gelcoat under it then question answered. Barrier coat is a very tough epoxy paint and will not look like gelcoat. As for how often it depends. Depends on the kind of paint and your conditions. In Lake Erie I can get two seasons from Trinidad SR, probably three but never tried it.
The likelihood John is it was never barrier-coated. Certainly not by Hunter. But you can easily check. Take a spot low on the hull and with a screwdriver scrape away some bottompaint. The anti-fouling paint will scrape off very easily, do not force it. If you find smooth white gelcoat under it then question answered. Barrier coat is a very tough epoxy paint and will not look like gelcoat. As for how often it depends. Depends on the kind of paint and your conditions. In Lake Erie I can get two seasons from Trinidad SR, probably three but never tried it.
John, Hunter discourages barrier coating...
funny, I just had a conversation yesterday with my friend about this subject. He told me when he purchased his 380 in '99, Hunter told him that if he barrier coated the hull, he would void the hull waranty. Food for thought.
funny, I just had a conversation yesterday with my friend about this subject. He told me when he purchased his 380 in '99, Hunter told him that if he barrier coated the hull, he would void the hull waranty. Food for thought.
Hunter Marines position on barrier coating.
OKAY, here it is. This is not the dealer but Hunters take on barrier coating. 'Adding a barrier coat DOES NOT void the warranty. The owners manual reads that sanding the hull will void your 5 year warranty UNLESS applying an epoxy barrier coat. If you are applying an epoxy barrier coat then they ask that you contact Hunter so that they can record the information and put it in with the documentation for your boat. The purpose for this is to learn how long barrier coats provide good blister protection for future reference. Hunter does not barrier coat every boat. The do feel that a barrier coat is good and is actually of the best bottom protections that you can have against blisters. They actually offer it as an option now when ordering a new boat.' I hope this clarifies their position on this issue.
OKAY, here it is. This is not the dealer but Hunters take on barrier coating. 'Adding a barrier coat DOES NOT void the warranty. The owners manual reads that sanding the hull will void your 5 year warranty UNLESS applying an epoxy barrier coat. If you are applying an epoxy barrier coat then they ask that you contact Hunter so that they can record the information and put it in with the documentation for your boat. The purpose for this is to learn how long barrier coats provide good blister protection for future reference. Hunter does not barrier coat every boat. The do feel that a barrier coat is good and is actually of the best bottom protections that you can have against blisters. They actually offer it as an option now when ordering a new boat.' I hope this clarifies their position on this issue.
Barrier Coat Good Idea
My 1988 has had an Interlux 2000 barier coat system and I have never had any blister of any kind. Lets see, thats almost 15 years! Time flies when you're having fun. If I were to get a new boat that would be kept in the water I would definitely specify it have a barrier coat system put on. There have been too many horror stories about newer boats getting blisters to make me feel comfortable about not doing it. If one dry-sails the boat I wouldn't bother epoxy coating it.
My 1988 has had an Interlux 2000 barier coat system and I have never had any blister of any kind. Lets see, thats almost 15 years! Time flies when you're having fun. If I were to get a new boat that would be kept in the water I would definitely specify it have a barrier coat system put on. There have been too many horror stories about newer boats getting blisters to make me feel comfortable about not doing it. If one dry-sails the boat I wouldn't bother epoxy coating it.
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