My marina charges $30/ft plus materials to bottom paint. I decided that this is a job I will do myself. Before I commit, I am asking myself the basic question: is bottom painting a must for a boat that only sees freshwater (Tennessee River)? An alternative perhaps is to pressure wash (I own a pressure washer) the bottom at the beginning and the end of the season. Is this crazy thinking? Thanks. Mike Killian Lucy's Branch Marina - Alabama
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Claude L.-Auger
Paint it !
I am in freshwater also, and my season is much shorter than yours. Believe me, unless you get your boat out of the water regularly to pressure wash the slime off of it, by the end of the season you'll have so much slime and growth on the bottom that the boat will feel like a turtle. Cost (if done by yard) or time invested if done by yourself pays off in performance when sailing and ease of cleaning at haul-out time. Have a great season.
I am in freshwater also, and my season is much shorter than yours. Believe me, unless you get your boat out of the water regularly to pressure wash the slime off of it, by the end of the season you'll have so much slime and growth on the bottom that the boat will feel like a turtle. Cost (if done by yard) or time invested if done by yourself pays off in performance when sailing and ease of cleaning at haul-out time. Have a great season.
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Dave Royce
I agree
I own a 23.5 and kept it in fresh water until last year. The first year I did not have bottom paint on it and cleaning the bottom was the worst work I ever did. The growth so was bad it took me over a week to clean it. I then decided to have the bottom painted. So if you want to save time and enjoy your boat more paint it......
I own a 23.5 and kept it in fresh water until last year. The first year I did not have bottom paint on it and cleaning the bottom was the worst work I ever did. The growth so was bad it took me over a week to clean it. I then decided to have the bottom painted. So if you want to save time and enjoy your boat more paint it......
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Steven Gautney
Paint it if you leave it in the water over a week.
I sail in the Coosa and only occasionally get to the Tenn. but the "stuff" to be polite, grows so fast on the bottom that I highly recommend antifouling paint unless you plan to haul the boat out every time you sail. We have a number of J-22s at the BSC that do not paint but they do not leave the boat in the water. $30.00 per foot is about what I paid last year to have my 23.5 painted. Good luck. ..
I sail in the Coosa and only occasionally get to the Tenn. but the "stuff" to be polite, grows so fast on the bottom that I highly recommend antifouling paint unless you plan to haul the boat out every time you sail. We have a number of J-22s at the BSC that do not paint but they do not leave the boat in the water. $30.00 per foot is about what I paid last year to have my 23.5 painted. Good luck. ..
Bottom paint in fresh water
I keep my H23 in the St Johns River year round. Bottom paint definitely keeps the growth off. However algae and slime are a bigger problem in fresh water than barnacles, so your paint should contain a good biocide/algaecide. Most people around here use Pettit Trinidad if the boat stays in the water. Micron CSC and the new copolymer (multi-season ablative) paints are gaining ground over hard epoxy with the trailer boats. VC17 worked well for me, but the paint film was thin and the algae attacked it especially hard at the waterline (where the most sunlight was). I'll put more coats in this area next time. The West Marine catalog has some good guidelines for bottom paint. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
I keep my H23 in the St Johns River year round. Bottom paint definitely keeps the growth off. However algae and slime are a bigger problem in fresh water than barnacles, so your paint should contain a good biocide/algaecide. Most people around here use Pettit Trinidad if the boat stays in the water. Micron CSC and the new copolymer (multi-season ablative) paints are gaining ground over hard epoxy with the trailer boats. VC17 worked well for me, but the paint film was thin and the algae attacked it especially hard at the waterline (where the most sunlight was). I'll put more coats in this area next time. The West Marine catalog has some good guidelines for bottom paint. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
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Dick Vance
Go With Paint
Mike, I've kept boats in the various lakes around East TN all my life. Unless you keep it on a trailer, paint it! I have used Micron CSC but prefer VC-17. The Teflon base of VC makes it very easy to wipe the slime off with a firm sponge or soft bristle brush. I would also recommend lightly sanding the boat with 220 grit paper and wipe the hull with acetone before painting. Also repair any minor nicks and dings, for which I prefer the West System epoxy kits. I also apply 3 coats of VC-Tar as a barrier coat before applying the paint. This serves two purposes: 1) protects the hull from osmotic blistering and 2) provides an additional base for the the very thin VC paint. Though the manufacturer recommends annual painting with VC-17, I have found mine lasts two seasons quite well; in fact I'm in my third year on this paint job and its still working. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
Mike, I've kept boats in the various lakes around East TN all my life. Unless you keep it on a trailer, paint it! I have used Micron CSC but prefer VC-17. The Teflon base of VC makes it very easy to wipe the slime off with a firm sponge or soft bristle brush. I would also recommend lightly sanding the boat with 220 grit paper and wipe the hull with acetone before painting. Also repair any minor nicks and dings, for which I prefer the West System epoxy kits. I also apply 3 coats of VC-Tar as a barrier coat before applying the paint. This serves two purposes: 1) protects the hull from osmotic blistering and 2) provides an additional base for the the very thin VC paint. Though the manufacturer recommends annual painting with VC-17, I have found mine lasts two seasons quite well; in fact I'm in my third year on this paint job and its still working. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
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Ken Palmer
I wonder...
Sanding and wiping down the old VC-17 with acetone is only taking off what paint is left on the hull. Why do you want to do that? Do you remove paint from a wall before repainting? I don't, I just wash it. On my boat, I use soap and water and a Scotch-Brite pad to clean off anything the yard's high pressure washer hasn't removed. I may get two years of service from VC-17, but I follow the paint can's instructions and give it a fresh coat every spring. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
Sanding and wiping down the old VC-17 with acetone is only taking off what paint is left on the hull. Why do you want to do that? Do you remove paint from a wall before repainting? I don't, I just wash it. On my boat, I use soap and water and a Scotch-Brite pad to clean off anything the yard's high pressure washer hasn't removed. I may get two years of service from VC-17, but I follow the paint can's instructions and give it a fresh coat every spring. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
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Dick Vance
Acetone Is For First Time Painting
Ken, I agree that Acetone should not used when repainting over old VC-17. Neither should Muriatic acid or any other solvents. Light sanding might be, depending on the condition of the bottom, otherwise, good cleaning as you suggest is all that's necessary. Mike's boat apparently has no paint at this time as his question was whether he should paint or not. IMHO, when painting for the first time, thorough cleaning; light sanding and wash with acetone to remove any possible wax, oil residue, or the like, to insure a complete bond of the new barrier coat/paint is a good idea. When repainting my VC-17, cleaning and light sanding as needed is the only prep I do. Thanks, Dick
Ken, I agree that Acetone should not used when repainting over old VC-17. Neither should Muriatic acid or any other solvents. Light sanding might be, depending on the condition of the bottom, otherwise, good cleaning as you suggest is all that's necessary. Mike's boat apparently has no paint at this time as his question was whether he should paint or not. IMHO, when painting for the first time, thorough cleaning; light sanding and wash with acetone to remove any possible wax, oil residue, or the like, to insure a complete bond of the new barrier coat/paint is a good idea. When repainting my VC-17, cleaning and light sanding as needed is the only prep I do. Thanks, Dick
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Ken Palmer
Dick, I agree
For painting a new surface, you need to clean the hull thoroughly. Most folks in this area are using epoxy barrier coat under the VC-17. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
For painting a new surface, you need to clean the hull thoroughly. Most folks in this area are using epoxy barrier coat under the VC-17. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
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