I had my hull cleaned and painted last March and was told by the yard that I would only need to repeat this process every TWO years, NOT every year as some people do. Is this correct or should I clean and repaint annually? Thanks in advance for your replies...
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R
Rhet
Depends
How often to paint the bottom is dependent on so many factors that it can be confusing. It depends on where tyhe boat is, what you use the boat for (Racing or cruising), what kind and how many coats of bottom paint were applied and probably other factors like your grandmother's blood type. I am in a warmer water climate than you are. I coat with a vinyl bottom paint every two years, and club race the boat. I have a diver go down and clean the boat probably six times a summer. I haul every two years and the bottom always looks ok when I pull it out. Frankly, I'd rather come out every two years and spend a little more money.
How often to paint the bottom is dependent on so many factors that it can be confusing. It depends on where tyhe boat is, what you use the boat for (Racing or cruising), what kind and how many coats of bottom paint were applied and probably other factors like your grandmother's blood type. I am in a warmer water climate than you are. I coat with a vinyl bottom paint every two years, and club race the boat. I have a diver go down and clean the boat probably six times a summer. I haul every two years and the bottom always looks ok when I pull it out. Frankly, I'd rather come out every two years and spend a little more money.
L
LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com
Oregon?
Assuming you're on the river, some folks even push it to three years (or four in *some* cases - cough, cough, wink, wink). If they used Trinidad SR, for example, you might not have to haul for three years (which is my hope). But unless you're seeing a large growth problem, you shouldn't need to paint every year. LaDonna
Assuming you're on the river, some folks even push it to three years (or four in *some* cases - cough, cough, wink, wink). If they used Trinidad SR, for example, you might not have to haul for three years (which is my hope). But unless you're seeing a large growth problem, you shouldn't need to paint every year. LaDonna
S
Steve Franklin
Too many variables....
How much growth do you get? What kind of paint do you use? How many coats? Do you haul the boat out during the winter? Ask around the docks for someone whose circumstances match yours. I bet LaDonna might have an idea or two. My (hull) bottom is cleaned by a diver 3-4 times/year and the paint (West Marine Bottom Pro Plus) has lasted 3+ years. But that's for the Puget Sound, so the info might help someone up here, but it probably doesn't really do you any good. Good luck!!
How much growth do you get? What kind of paint do you use? How many coats? Do you haul the boat out during the winter? Ask around the docks for someone whose circumstances match yours. I bet LaDonna might have an idea or two. My (hull) bottom is cleaned by a diver 3-4 times/year and the paint (West Marine Bottom Pro Plus) has lasted 3+ years. But that's for the Puget Sound, so the info might help someone up here, but it probably doesn't really do you any good. Good luck!!
P
Paul
2 years worked for me
I just hauled my Catalina 27 after 2 years in salt water with no diver cleanings. The bottom was remarkablely clean. Only 3 barnacles and a fine coating of slime. From what I've been told in cold water you can stretch the intervals much more then the warm water folks can.
I just hauled my Catalina 27 after 2 years in salt water with no diver cleanings. The bottom was remarkablely clean. Only 3 barnacles and a fine coating of slime. From what I've been told in cold water you can stretch the intervals much more then the warm water folks can.
J
Jack Swords
3 yrs in Mexico
I have used Interlux Ultracoat on my C-30. Went 5 years in California, painted two coats before going to Mexico (did not have any complaints from bottom cleaning diver). Been in La Paz for 3 years in the water, have bottom cleaned once a month, bottom is still clean. Same diver for 3 years and he says the bottom is great. I dive on the boat every other month and he is keeping it clean, 3 tiny blisters that I'm watching. I do not let the diver use a metal scraper, just a scrubber for the monthly slime. He says other marine growth grows on the slime, algae, etc. No barnacles (except on the transom where the too heavy cruising stuff lowers the boat so water is above the bottom paint).
I have used Interlux Ultracoat on my C-30. Went 5 years in California, painted two coats before going to Mexico (did not have any complaints from bottom cleaning diver). Been in La Paz for 3 years in the water, have bottom cleaned once a month, bottom is still clean. Same diver for 3 years and he says the bottom is great. I dive on the boat every other month and he is keeping it clean, 3 tiny blisters that I'm watching. I do not let the diver use a metal scraper, just a scrubber for the monthly slime. He says other marine growth grows on the slime, algae, etc. No barnacles (except on the transom where the too heavy cruising stuff lowers the boat so water is above the bottom paint).
Bottom Paint
As everyone has indicated there are a lot of variables. One that hasn't been mentioned is how "much" you sail as the movement of the hull through the water does two things, helps keep the hull clean, and wears the ablative paint. Last year I sailed an average of every third day and when I took the boat out of the water for the winter it looked like new. The more you sail the less green stuff. If you sail less frequently you should consider caressing the bottom with a soft brush about every 3rd month. With two coats of bottom paint you should get three years with some minor touch ups.
As everyone has indicated there are a lot of variables. One that hasn't been mentioned is how "much" you sail as the movement of the hull through the water does two things, helps keep the hull clean, and wears the ablative paint. Last year I sailed an average of every third day and when I took the boat out of the water for the winter it looked like new. The more you sail the less green stuff. If you sail less frequently you should consider caressing the bottom with a soft brush about every 3rd month. With two coats of bottom paint you should get three years with some minor touch ups.
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