Bottom Paint End-of-life

Joe · Apr 7, 2018

Interlux 2000 is an 2 part epoxy "barrier coat", designed to prevent possible water intrusion through the gel coat layer that may cause osmosis issues. Once applied correctly it becomes essentially a permanent part of the hull's bottom. It is not consided "bottom paint".
You apply bottom paint over a barrier coat to inhibit marine growth to improve the vessel's efficiency and performance . I suggest you do your own research to learn more about your bottom paint options.

Davidasailor26 · Apr 7, 2018

Like Joe said Interlux 2000 isn't really a bottom paint in the sense that most people use the term. 4 coats of Interlux, if properly applied should prevent blisters for many years. On the short haul you should be able to tell its integrity by looking for any blisters, small bumps visible on the hull. If there are blisters then the Interlux was likely applied while the hull was still wet, and it may need to be stripped and redone, a labor intensive process.

Over the barrier coat there should be at least 2 coats of antifouling paint, to prevent growth such as barnacles. After 4 years you'll likely need to apply another coat or two. Applying the new paint is fairly easy, as long as you don't need to remove the old paint. Potential reasons to remove the old paint would be if it is flaking off or if you want to use a paint that's incompatible with what's already there.

jssailem · Apr 7, 2018

Chris only way to answer the question is to get in the water and look at the boat with a bright light or as most of us do haul the boat and while in the slings inspect the bottom.

My diver told me that the hull looked good only a few blisters.

Once we started to sand them

All in the gel coat layer. Faired the spots with epoxy. Covered faired spots with barrier coat paint. Then painted bottom with bottom paint

Ready to return to the water.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Apr 7, 2018

3 coats of Interprotect 2000 in 2008- still working fine in 2013

jssailem · Apr 11, 2018

No not really. Knowing the paint will make it easy to use the same.
Here is a link. https://interlux.com/en/us/boat-paint/antifouling/micron-extra

You still need to haul the boat to see and access the conditions of the bottom. Then take what ever actions necessary.

Davidasailor26 · Apr 11, 2018

Micron extra is a pretty high quality mulit-season paint, so it's not neglectful to have used it for the last few years. It is probably due for a light sanding and two new coats, but that's regular maintenance, nothing special. You could use more Micron extra over the top or switch paint types if you prefer. Interlux provides a compatibility chart for its paints at http://www.yachtpaint.com/LiteratureCentre/antifouling-compatibility-chart-usa-diy.pdf but their site seems to be down right now.

Edit: thanks to jssailem I found the updated Interlux compatibity site - https://interlux.com/en/us/support/boat-painting-tips/is-my-new-antifouling-compatible

Apex · Apr 11, 2018

I recommend getting a survey, including the short haul. You will learn a lot about the boat, it's particular systems, even bottom paint from the surveyor. There are lots of discussions in this forum, but the short of it is: Get your own surveyor recommended from others, not the seller or broker. And justification for survey is a balance or boat value and personal risk. In this case, I think the lessons learned justify cost for survey.

Joe · Apr 11, 2018

Chris87 said:
So the owner says the paint he applied was interlux micron extra, and not InterLux 2000. Knowing that micron has been on for the past four years, with the boat staying in the water year round, does this change things?

Hire a diver, or put on a dive mask yourself, and look for yourself. Don't rely on the owner's word. If it's covered with growth, the P.O. hasn't used a diver to clean it recently. Just because there's growth on the bottom, though, doesn't mean the bottom is bad.....it's just dirty. You won't really know until you have it cleaned. Most divers will charge extra for a first time cleaning with more than average growth....so expect to pay 50 or 60 bucks. Once it's cleaned off the diver will give you an opinion of its general condition, and whether you should paint right away... or wait for a more convenient time.

One thing you must understand, the price you pay for a boat is just one part of ownership. There are many recurring costs to factor in and bottom maintenance is just one of them.... be ready for that.

shemandr · Apr 11, 2018

And a clean smooth bottom is basic to enjoying sailing as a kinetic sport and not just bobbing around. At four coats of Micron I would consider skipping painting if the Micron is in good shape. Usually multiple coats of ablative bottom paint are applied in different colors so that you can tell how it's wearing. Look at the surfaces that see the most water flow like the leading edges of the keel and rudder. And surfaces that get the most scrubbing like the first foot under the waterline. There is no answer to how long ablative bottom paint lasts. It depends on how often the boat is used, how often it is cleaned, the local growth conditions and probably other factors I'm not thinking of. You're going to see the bottom at the short haul, and the yard should probably power wash the bottom so you can see it. I say probably because if the bottom paint is in bad shape power washing could knock off some creating the need to re-paint. That may be an issue between you and the seller so you need to get ahead of that.
I don't see any reason you shouldn't proceed. If the rest of the boat is "Perfect" hopefully the bottom will be good too. Check the cutlass bearing, and the rudder post for play while you're at it and the keel/hull joint. Take pictures.

Davidasailor26 · Apr 12, 2018

It does sound like you're taking the right steps to be prepared and understand the condition of the boat. The couple additional considerations I'd recommend are:

- A surveyor will have more experience and know more things to look for, especially when it comes to marine standards. Something that looks good to you might not be durable in a marine environment.

- It's hard for some people to really be objective about a potential purchase. For some it might not be a problem, but I know I've overlooked things thinking a boat was the perfect one, only to have a surveyor point out serious issues.

- To get insurance you'll probably need a survey, and it's better to have any issues identified now whike you can still negotiate the fixes than when you want to get into a Marina and they're asking for your proof of insurance.

Maine Sail · Apr 12, 2018

Chris87 said:
I'm looking at a boat that's been in the water for the past four years, rarely used ................................................................................................ Should I proceed?

Your surveyor will help answer that question......

Apex · Apr 12, 2018

"And justification for survey is a balance of boat value and personal risk. In this case, I think the lessons learned"(...about boat systems...) justify cost for survey.

I think this still applies Chris. Google some more on the specific bottom paints, and the manufacturers literature on those products should help you with basic understanding of ablatives, hard coatings, anti-fouling and barrier products. If you have already had a couple of surveys on other boats, hopefully they helped familiarize the systems, their functionality, proper installation requirements, and condition of a boat as an overall system.

...now if I were to have someone inspect a boat for me: @mainesail would be one. Check out his MarineHowTo.com website (in his signature above) along with special contributor forum section, Musings with Maine Sail.

DougM · Apr 12, 2018

You comment that you are going to move forward without a survey. How do you plan to get insurance? I would think that most insurers would want at least a cursory surveybeforemthey would write coverage.

jssailem · Apr 12, 2018

Chris.
@DougM makes a good point about a survey and insurance. The BoatUS coverage requires the owner to do a self survey for the underwriter. The insurance I had before required a survey before considering the application.
If you plan to keep the boat in a marina you will need to demonstrate you have insurance covering the boat.

If you have built your knowledge base and the price/risk is tolerable then I would agree with your thoughts that a survey is not required. That said, there are benefits of a survey. Your eye may see “oh that is cool,” and the surveyor is busy writing up the problem.

With my boat I read a 1.5 year old survey, that was marginal. My price/risk ratio was low. My experience. Has proven to be accurate. I did use the survey to get insurance. I have expended more than I paid for the 1974 boat on refit/upgrading. That is the nature of the process.

Maine Sail · Apr 12, 2018

jssailem said:
Chris.
@DougM makes a good point about a survey and insurance. The BoatUS coverage requires the owner to do a self survey for the underwriter. The insurance I had before required a survey before considering the application.
If you plan to keep the boat in a marina you will need to demonstrate you have insurance covering the boat.

Even some harbors and mooring fields today are requiring insurance. Around here every winter storage yard & marina also require it. While you may find an insurer that does not require a survey it is probably not one you want to use to insure a sailboat..

The key to any of this is not in considering a survey "expensive" but rather as cost savings. If an owner tried to do a self survey, on a boat I was selling, and then tried to argue over price, there would be zero price consideration until an actual surveyor was involved. Self surveys are fine to identify a boat you're seriously considering but when you get to the offer point you bring in a surveyor. Any surveyor you hire must be NAMS or SAMS certified with impeccable credentials and a list of recommendations a mile long.

The OP states he has already had two "expensive surveys" but imagine how expensive the boats would have been, in the end, without one...

A few years ago a customer of mine was purchasing an "inexpensive" power boat and was thinking about not geting a survey. I spent considerable time discussing it with him and finally talked him into getting one (he is at a marina that requires insurance too).

Bottom line is that he wound up purchasing the boat for $1.00 vs. $11,200.00 because the transom was rotted and there were other issues too..

In the end he got the transom & other items repaired for $6600.00. That survey saved him $11,999.00.... In most cases surveys cost the owner nothing.....

Sumner · Apr 12, 2018

Even if you don't get the survey I'd for sure get the boat out of the water to see the bottom or do as Joe suggested and get a diver on it. When we bought the Endeavour I saw the receipts for the barrier pain and bottom paint and was told the boat was dived on and cleaned monthly and didn't have the boat hauled out.

We thought we would only be putting on new bottom paint. Wrong, the boat had lots of blisters as the previous repair only included barrier paint where they had repaired blisters. The end result was spending almost $5000 to get the bottom down to gel coat, blister repairs, and new barrier paint and bottom paint.

Find the money to get the bottom looked at,

Sumner
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1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
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Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

Bottom Paint End-of-life

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