bottom paint necessary?

[Paul]

seriously, is it really necessary? boats are built well and if they get powerwashed once a year why bother. maybe the bottompaint thing is just an expensive scam unless you race your boat

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Paint

Paul -Yes - it is really necessary. The accumlation of growth on the hull can lead to damage to the fiberglass because many of the little organisms adhear to the hull with drill like protrusions. The cost to repair would be substantially more than the cost of the bottom paint.Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[ken]

bottom coat

is bottom painting the way to go if you are in fresh water? no doubt that salt water brings along with it the nasty critters that can damage your gel coat. however algae in fresh water is easly wiped or hosed off. is a barrier coat need to protect the gel coat from water? maybe i am missing something.ken

 

[Craig - Boston]

Well, you are right....

It does two things. First, it acts as a barrier coat between the freshwater and the gel coat. Second, it provides anti-fouling coating from freshwater growth.Water will penetrate a gelcoat. Even if you swear off bottom paint, there are modified epoxy barrier coats that you should put on there.Freshwater only has a fraction of the critters as saltwater but (1) the slime/algea will hurt collect on the bottom and (2) there are new types of critters appearing in freshwater all the time. Sailors are trailering their boats between fresh and salt water. Sooner later somethings got to survive and they started noticing them a few years back.Most importantly, hey it is a new boat. Protect the investment.Good Luck with the new boat!Craig

 

[Josh]

Trailer sailing...

Hey Paul,Personally, I don't see the need for it in freshwater, especially if you are trailer sailing. Paints with poisons in them to kill growth are probably more detrimental to the environment then they are helpful to your boat in freshwater. I would get a special coating like Craig suggests, but go with the manufacturers suggestion as to how long it will last in and out of the water.The previous owner of mine put a bottom coat on, and trailer sailed. He used the boat a few times a year, so I think he was just creating work for himself. If you trailer, just get a protective coat that will prevent damage to the gelcoat. The lack of water when you haul it out after a weekend will do the rest.Josh