Bottom Paint.......

[Red Beard]

I love how one simple question can lead to so many different responses! THANKS MATES! Is it that hard to to take a swim and wipe the hull clean once a month or week? Or is that another newbie stupid question? I do realize that bottom paint is expensive and I am in a fresh water lake and I probally don't and won't use it. And actually I figure it had to do with the FROMUNDER and it was just an other expensive thing you "have" to do. But I had to ask. Thanks Again! PS...I had a Great time @ the Miami Baot Show...Dream On.......Blueskies @ Highhtides...rb

 

[Steve Dion]

Stuff grows into the pours of the gelcoat.

RB:I can tell you from my experience in our local (fresh) water that you will get growth. The stuff grows into the pours of the gelcoat and is very difficult to remove. Your water may be much cleaner but I can tell you that they paint the bottoms in Lake Tahoe too (not everyone). So this is sort of one of those things that you can/could try it for a season and see what happens. The one thing that you have NOT addressed is the problem with blisters. They are actually MORE prevalent in fresh water than in salt water. The other thing that I see is a lot of boats with a brown mark on their boats. There are a lot of complaints about this and it is also not easy to remove.When I hear someone say that Bottom paint is expensive my only reply is 'is your time worth anything'? If your time is not of any value then the paint may be considered expensive. If your time is worth something, then the paint may turn out to be cheap.

 

[Buck Harrison]

OK, OK, I 'll 'Fess Up....

Yes, of course, I paint the bottom of my 420. Actually, I use Petit Trinadad SR, (because of Practical Sailor reviews). Initial coat black, then 2 more blue coats, more at the water line. And it does do a pretty good job for at least a year... keeps barnicals off almost completely, and scum to a minimum... except at the waterline, especially on the side of the boat most exposed to sunlight.... Yes, its sorta expensive, but, since it very much helps to reduce the time(& money) spent diving on the bottom to clean it during the season, not to mention helping keep the boat sailing well, its worth it (like Steve says). As far as blisters.... well, don't think that I've ever seen a boat that has blisters and didn't have bottom paint... but then I'm always around a marine environment.