Bottom paint

[Jared1048]

So the boat is going to be out of the water for a repair and I wanted to use this opportunity to paint the bottom. I'm not sure if it needs it or not though. The ablative paint on there now still rubs off pretty well. I'm not sure if I even need bottom paint?

Whats the process for adding more coats? Could I just rough up the top layer and paint over it? I noticed that there some chips in the paint about the size of a half dollar.

Has anyone posted a DIY guide for the bottom like Maine Sails "buff/wax"?

Cheers!
-Jared

 

[Warren Milberg]

Do you know what bottom paint is on the boat now? If so, you can go to the manufacturer's site to find a compatibility matrix for whatever paint you want to put on the boat. Generally, most ablatives can be covered with another ablative paint, but not by harder, modified epoxies. I've used ablatives on my boats for years and typically put one thin coat on each spring. I would sand and fair any spots where paint has fallen or chipped off and look for any other signs of poor adhesion (and find out why). I then power wash my boat to remove any loose paint, dirt, and to rough up the surface a bit. Spot paint the areas where paint has fallen off and then roll on a new coat of paint. You are read to go sailing....

 

[Jared1048]

I've only had the boat a little over a year and didnt think to ask what kind of paint was on it

What grade sandpaper do you recommend using?

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[Warren Milberg]

80-100 grit paper should be ok.