bottom paint implications

[Roger F]

We welcomed the sun and near 80F here in NH today, finally! I have a 240 that has never had bottom painted, as no need for it. However, we may be leaving her on a mooring this season (or majority of it). As I understand it, the bottom will require sanding to prep it for paint. What are the long term implications of doing this (sanding and paint). For example, if I do not use a mooring for the next couple seasons after this one, will I still need to repaint or will the old paint be sufficient to protect hull for future trailer use? Also any suggestions on bottom painting with the boat on the trailer...do-able?Thanks

 

[Sail-La-levee]

Paint it!

Roger,Paint it! It can never hurt. Sand the hull with a med grit, wipe with asatone and thats the prep. Buy yourself a gallon of bottom shield paint and tape it off. The paint can be applied by brush or roller. As far as the trailer, of course! Paint what you can then roll the boat back to the unpainted area and paint that area. The benifit is the paint will keep build up off the hull while in the water. As far as maintaining it, you'll know when it needs to be redone. Good luckChris

 

[Larry Long]

Check Hunter first.

Check with Hunter on the sanding part. I believe Hunter wants you to use a non-sanding primer and then apply bottom paint. It is suspected that sanding exposes the ends of some of the glass fibers that are near the surface providing a path for water to wick below the gelcoat causing blisters. I know on my boat Hunter states that sanding voids the 5-year hull warranty.

 

[Steve Dion]

Sanding is approved for barrier coating.

I agree with Larry. If you plan on using a barrier coating, then Hunter will approve of sanding. If you are NOT using a barrier coat (prevents blisters), then you need to discuss this with them.You need to be sure that the bottom has been de-waxed. This is wax that is used when the hull is laid up. If you do not get this off, the paint will not adhere.

 

[Tom2909]

Recommendation...

This response assumes you are applying only an antifouling bottom paint.Hunter has very specfic recommendations for bottom prep before applying bottom paint to prevent potential blister problems and maintain blister warrantee. They specifically state that sanding will void the warrantee.What I would recommend is to take the boat to a Hunter dealer, or have your boat yard talk to Hunter about the recommended procedure, and have them properly prep and paint the bottom with a multi season, ablative paint such as Interlux Micron Extra with Biolux if soft growth is a problem in your area, or Woolsey Hydrocoat if not. I have used both on my trailerable H260 and get 2 to 3 seasons from a two coat paint job with the boat in the water for about 5 months per season in Boston Harbor.The prep chemicals and bottom paint itself are nasty stuff and you don't want to be breathing the fumes or getting it on your skin. Proper gear and knowledge is needed for saftey. You also need to get the boat high off the trailer in order to lower the centerboard to prep and apply paint to it and the trunk. A travel lift is the best way to go for that.While the boat is in the lift (or on stands) is the time to check (and replace, if needed) your ballast valve gasket, too.I would estimate about $800 (+/-) for the total job including travel lift, paint and other materials. Subsequent applications (every other year) should be somewhat less $$ because the prep is much easier. Fair winds,Tom

 

[Roger F]

Thanks

Good advice...I will start with Hunter and the dealer. Perhaps it makes sense to have this first prep and application done by professionals - I'd hate to void warranty as it still has warranty left.

 

[dennisp]

hope you have better luck than me!

I bought my '93 Hunter 23.5 from the (let's say "unnamed, but local") Hunter dealer in Woodbridge last year. Pretty used, so warranty is probably not a concern, hey? I asked them for an estimate for bottom coat before the pick-up of the boat - boat to stay in my local marina in the Potomac: hydrilla, sludge, and all - and was told $500 and a week's time for the new bottom coating. I did get Interlux Fiberglass Bottomkote (they say!), and with it an invoice for $705 (labor $550; paint $155!) a full three weeks later (they were busy!)...and when I pulled it last November from the marina on the trailer to my house, more than a 1/4 of the bottom had blistered or worn off; and nearly all the paint on the CB and bottom of the rudder was gone. (I wonder now if additional work I had done was billed properly...to replace the line for hauling the centerboard - well, they had it on the lift for the bottom painting, and I figured that would be a simple fix and opportune time to replace a line that looked very old and sun-bleached - for which I was billed 8 feet of 5/16 XLS at $.50/foot ($4.00) and 3.0 hours labor at $60/Hr ($180) - total $184. I know marine parts and labor are pricey, but good luck with your Hunter dealer!) Not a flame intended here - it's that I will do it myself next winter, fumes and all. But, hey, it's summertime - and I'm off to the boat!!!