Hi, I am considering buying a Macgregor 26s. It will probably be on its trailer most of the time (ie not moored in water) and will see salt and fresh water. What is the current wisdom regarding the need for bottom paint? The boat currently has paint on it but the paint job is at least 5 years old and needs to come off. Do I clean it off and just wax the bottom or do I clean it off and put on a new paint? If the verdict will be to repaint then what do you recommend for a boat that will not be kept in the water most of the time? thanks in advance, Lori
Current wisdom regarding bottom paint
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Bottom paint
If the boat just goes into salt or brackish water for a weekend at a time, you can remove the paint and stay with wax, If the boat stays in long enough to foul, which can be a little as a week, then you should probably repaint it. Since it comes out of the water, you need to use one of the multi-launch, mult-season paints that do not die when dried out. I think all of these are ablative also, which will save you the trouble of sanding and renewing the paint. The downside is that some can rub off when sliding on the trailer, pressure washing will not be possible without removing much of it. Brands would be Interlux CSC and Extra, West Marine PCA, and Pettit SR and Hydrocoat. For short stays in the water, its probably important to get one with a biocide to fight slime.
If the boat just goes into salt or brackish water for a weekend at a time, you can remove the paint and stay with wax, If the boat stays in long enough to foul, which can be a little as a week, then you should probably repaint it. Since it comes out of the water, you need to use one of the multi-launch, mult-season paints that do not die when dried out. I think all of these are ablative also, which will save you the trouble of sanding and renewing the paint. The downside is that some can rub off when sliding on the trailer, pressure washing will not be possible without removing much of it. Brands would be Interlux CSC and Extra, West Marine PCA, and Pettit SR and Hydrocoat. For short stays in the water, its probably important to get one with a biocide to fight slime.
I wouldn't worry about it
My experience is that your type of use does not require paint. Weekend sailing sometimes builds up a slime that can be washed off easily when the boat is pulled out of the water. This should be done whether painted or not. Most ramps have freshwater hoses available for washdown. Be sure to flush the engine (probably the most important thing). Also, when the boat moves through the water, very little will stick or grow. So, my advise is, it's just more work. If it's not for esthetics, don't sweat it. If it makes your boat look better, well, that's another story.
My experience is that your type of use does not require paint. Weekend sailing sometimes builds up a slime that can be washed off easily when the boat is pulled out of the water. This should be done whether painted or not. Most ramps have freshwater hoses available for washdown. Be sure to flush the engine (probably the most important thing). Also, when the boat moves through the water, very little will stick or grow. So, my advise is, it's just more work. If it's not for esthetics, don't sweat it. If it makes your boat look better, well, that's another story.
VS721???
I have seen a "fouling release barrier" bottom wax from Aurora called VS721. It goes on as "wipe on and buff", no sanding, and "two coats last all season". Does anyone have any experience with this product, and if so, is it effective, and in particular, if a boat is left in fresh water all season? Thanks
I have seen a "fouling release barrier" bottom wax from Aurora called VS721. It goes on as "wipe on and buff", no sanding, and "two coats last all season". Does anyone have any experience with this product, and if so, is it effective, and in particular, if a boat is left in fresh water all season? Thanks
I will just remove the paint for now but how?
Okay...I have decided to remove the paint and just wax it. My next question is how do I remove the old paint without damaging the gelcoat underneath? Any suggestions? thanks
Okay...I have decided to remove the paint and just wax it. My next question is how do I remove the old paint without damaging the gelcoat underneath? Any suggestions? thanks
Might consider this
If you can contact the PO try to find out if he or someone had sanded the bottom before painting. If so, you may just want to repaint as the easiest thing to do. There are several ways to remove the paint. One is to sand it off after a good pressure washing which will remove lots of paint. Another way is to sail the boat and not repaint it, you'll find the paint will come off over time in the water and consistent pressure washings. There are paint removal systems which will do a fine job too. One I like contains a paper material where you paint on the liquid and cover immediately with this paper. The paper grabs the paint as it dries and then you peel most of it off followed of course by sanding. Even when I trailer sailed I kept my bottome painted with ablative paint, it just kept the crap off the bottom which is mostly relevant to where you'll be sailing. Good luck with this, Steve P.
If you can contact the PO try to find out if he or someone had sanded the bottom before painting. If so, you may just want to repaint as the easiest thing to do. There are several ways to remove the paint. One is to sand it off after a good pressure washing which will remove lots of paint. Another way is to sail the boat and not repaint it, you'll find the paint will come off over time in the water and consistent pressure washings. There are paint removal systems which will do a fine job too. One I like contains a paper material where you paint on the liquid and cover immediately with this paper. The paper grabs the paint as it dries and then you peel most of it off followed of course by sanding. Even when I trailer sailed I kept my bottome painted with ablative paint, it just kept the crap off the bottom which is mostly relevant to where you'll be sailing. Good luck with this, Steve P.
Wax test in progress
Dean, I just put VS721 on my half my hull. I got it off the net from the factory in Canada. They suggest their Boat Scrub first. I like the Boat Scrub, it works great. The VS721 comes in a pint bottle and only covers 200 square feet. I don't recall seeing that on their web site so I didn't get enought to do the one side properly. I put it on like car wax. I used three coats. I'll let you know how it works when I get back from Florida in the spring. I used locally available antifouling bass boat wax on the other side as a comparision.
Dean, I just put VS721 on my half my hull. I got it off the net from the factory in Canada. They suggest their Boat Scrub first. I like the Boat Scrub, it works great. The VS721 comes in a pint bottle and only covers 200 square feet. I don't recall seeing that on their web site so I didn't get enought to do the one side properly. I put it on like car wax. I used three coats. I'll let you know how it works when I get back from Florida in the spring. I used locally available antifouling bass boat wax on the other side as a comparision.
I was taught not to wax the bottom
Unless someone can show me a study otherwise, It is my firm belief that one should NEVER wax below the waterline. I was told that it causes drag. Only bottom paints, preferrably ablative should be applied below. How your boat looks below the waterline is really only a matter of taste when you have to see it out of the water in your yard. How it works is another matter. Pressure wash, resand with a dust collecting sander and repaint with some Interlux. For inland lakes, be careful about what you paint with, many bottom paints are extemely toxic to aqautic life and are therefore banned completely. Get one that is legal and safe, and take the precautions necessary to keep the dust down. Please don't just let it flake of over the next few years.
Unless someone can show me a study otherwise, It is my firm belief that one should NEVER wax below the waterline. I was told that it causes drag. Only bottom paints, preferrably ablative should be applied below. How your boat looks below the waterline is really only a matter of taste when you have to see it out of the water in your yard. How it works is another matter. Pressure wash, resand with a dust collecting sander and repaint with some Interlux. For inland lakes, be careful about what you paint with, many bottom paints are extemely toxic to aqautic life and are therefore banned completely. Get one that is legal and safe, and take the precautions necessary to keep the dust down. Please don't just let it flake of over the next few years.
VS721
Well, it will be interesting to hear the results from: Retcoastie Gray Hawk, KY. on his half hull VS721 coating. I too tried the VS721 just this last summer on my 26M and here is what I found. It covers the entire hull for 3 coats below the water line with one bottle. I went through 3 bottles this season and did each coat sparingly. It is a lot of work cleaning the hull thoroughly with "Bottom Scrub' first then applying 3 coats of wax. Once done though I had the shiniest and most slippery slick hull I've seen to date and I like to think it increased my speed. It did help prolong the time between hull cleanings during my summer salt wet slip mooring but I still had to pull it out every six weeks or so for cleaning. I found the VS721 made it take longer for the growth to build up, but it still grew and had to be cleaned. The good part was that the growth would come off relatively easy, even the barnacles (most of them) would slide off from the pressure washer blast and the more stubborn ones easily wiped off. The wax made cleaning easier and then I re-applied two more coats. Still it did not eliminate growth but only retarded it and made cleaning easier. I still cleaned my hull 3 times this year and when I finally haulled out at the end of September I had a significant growth on her, but that also came off with the 1600PSI washer after which I used a solution of bleach and water and Fantastic in a spray bottle to get the green stain off. For all the work I did keeping it clean and waxed I am left wondering if perhaps bottom paint might be in my future, especially in two years when I retire. For now I only wet slip for 3-5 months tops so I am not entirely sure about the bottom paint, but when I retire I will likely wet slip 6-8 months which will then make bottom paint a more attractive alternative. One strange thing I did notice this last season was the absence of muscle growth, since previous seasons I had barnacles and muscles along with those round flat growths, yet this year I saw no muscles. Either they take longer to adhere and grow or else they don't like the wax. I used to think that bottom paint was too high maintenance but after doing my hull three times this year I am having second thoughts, I will seriously re-consider the bottom paint when I retire and have the boat in the water for longer periods.
Well, it will be interesting to hear the results from: Retcoastie Gray Hawk, KY. on his half hull VS721 coating. I too tried the VS721 just this last summer on my 26M and here is what I found. It covers the entire hull for 3 coats below the water line with one bottle. I went through 3 bottles this season and did each coat sparingly. It is a lot of work cleaning the hull thoroughly with "Bottom Scrub' first then applying 3 coats of wax. Once done though I had the shiniest and most slippery slick hull I've seen to date and I like to think it increased my speed. It did help prolong the time between hull cleanings during my summer salt wet slip mooring but I still had to pull it out every six weeks or so for cleaning. I found the VS721 made it take longer for the growth to build up, but it still grew and had to be cleaned. The good part was that the growth would come off relatively easy, even the barnacles (most of them) would slide off from the pressure washer blast and the more stubborn ones easily wiped off. The wax made cleaning easier and then I re-applied two more coats. Still it did not eliminate growth but only retarded it and made cleaning easier. I still cleaned my hull 3 times this year and when I finally haulled out at the end of September I had a significant growth on her, but that also came off with the 1600PSI washer after which I used a solution of bleach and water and Fantastic in a spray bottle to get the green stain off. For all the work I did keeping it clean and waxed I am left wondering if perhaps bottom paint might be in my future, especially in two years when I retire. For now I only wet slip for 3-5 months tops so I am not entirely sure about the bottom paint, but when I retire I will likely wet slip 6-8 months which will then make bottom paint a more attractive alternative. One strange thing I did notice this last season was the absence of muscle growth, since previous seasons I had barnacles and muscles along with those round flat growths, yet this year I saw no muscles. Either they take longer to adhere and grow or else they don't like the wax. I used to think that bottom paint was too high maintenance but after doing my hull three times this year I am having second thoughts, I will seriously re-consider the bottom paint when I retire and have the boat in the water for longer periods.
Only way to go
Capt. Kermie, bottom paint is the only way to go if you're going to leave her in the water for any length of time. Come Fall, pull her out and pressure wash the bottom clean, then let dry and touch up the paint. Much easier than waxing all the time. That's the way I do it. Steve P.
Capt. Kermie, bottom paint is the only way to go if you're going to leave her in the water for any length of time. Come Fall, pull her out and pressure wash the bottom clean, then let dry and touch up the paint. Much easier than waxing all the time. That's the way I do it. Steve P.
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