Bottom Paint

[Bob]

I am getting ready to lightly sand the bottom for a paint job. The boat is only three years old and just needs a touch up.What type of sandpaper is best to use? The paint is Interlux Fiberglass Bottomkote.It's currently blue but would like to change to the bronze color. Any drawback to changing colors from the original blue that's on there?Thanks!!

 

[Tim McCarty]

No, if you stick with fiberglass bottomkote

Color is irrelevent as long as it is the same kind of paint. You might think of using either ACT or Micron CSC ablatives...no sanding necessary between seasons (and with the Micron...no painting!!)A bit costly though. I now use VC17 Extra(teflon based paint with biolux), however, it is not compatable with Fiberglass bottomkote ("or so they say")....

 

[Allen Schweitzer]

I second Tim's recommendation

DEFINITELY go with an ablative paint. ACT is a great choice, and it's really not that much more expensive. I used to use bottomkote modified epoxy and, after a few seasons, I needed to strip it all off and it was a MAJOR pain in the a**.Ablatives never require sanding & never build up. You can paint right over your existing paint with only light sanding of 100 grit. Changing color will actually be a good idea, too. Ablatives dissolve over time. When they dissolve to the point where you start to see your old bottom paint, then you know it's time to put on an extra coat.Good luck!Allen Schweitzers/v FalstaffC-30 Hull# 632