Bottom paint for Great Lakes

[John F]

Help! I bought an '84 C22. This will be my first time with bottom painting. We'll be sailing her in Lake Erie, cruising only (i.e., no racing). What bottom paint would you C22 owners recommend for the Great Lakes area? There seem to be alot of options on the market. The painting brochure is a little unclear: with what grit sandpaper do I use on the bottom as prep? Is there anything else besides bottom paint I'll need to apply? What's everyone's experience?Thanks

 

[Lauraine]

Having sailed a C22 for a few years in Lake

Ontario, we liked to use Micron CSC, a soft ablative paint. We kept our boat in a slip during the summer, power washed when she came out in the fall and stored her on her trailer during the winter. The following season, we just rolled another coat on over what was left from the season before. If you're reasonably neat about rolling, no sanding necessary between seasons. You'll have to take off whatever is already on your boat unless, of course, you choose to use what's already on there. Have fun!

 

[Bob]

Right of Passage

Try an ablative paint. I have found that ablative paints will provide plenty of protection since its a layered cover.Try a minimum of two coats. Lightly sanding and washing the bottom before application is sufficient unless you already have multiple bottom paint layer built up. Cheap rollers and brushes is the order of the day. You can be as good as Picasso, but you'll never stop the drips!! Use a good masking tape to protect the waterline. Buy latex type protective gloves, wear old clothing and shoes, use a plastic tarp under the boat if your doing the painting on a trailer and do not apply the second or third coat until the prior coat is dry. If you have a centerboard boat, try to paint the centerboard as well. Acetone cleans up everything, even smears on the fiberglass, but be careful and make sure your breathing zone is well ventilated. Painting a bottom of a boat for the first time is a "right of passage" for sailboat owners. When your done, stand back and admire your great work and the boat will love you back for it. While your at it, clean and buff the hull, check the gungeons and pintels (rudder fittings) for tightness, add new cotter pins,check the centerboard fittings, etc., and your on your way........_/)Have fun!RegardsBobCat. 30