Do I need bottom paint?

[john6206]

Hi all,

I’ve never applied bottom paint because until now my boat always lived on it’s trailer.

This year, I got a well in a marina on Lake St Clair. The boat will spend much of the summer there (if I ever get it prepped!).

I hadn’t really thought about bottom paint. Previous owner had applied ablative paint at some point in the past. There is still enough on it that we curse our blue stained shirts most times when we launch It, but it’s of an unknown age, brand, etc.

Any advice?

Thanks,

John

 

[rgranger]

A few coats with a roller for an 18' boat won't take more than 90 min. to apply. Scrapping the crap off your hull if you don't will certainly take more than 90 min. My 2 cents and worth every penny

 

[justsomeguy]

Any advice?

If the previous owner's still available, ask what brand of paint they'd used.

 

[sail sfbay]

Ditto rgranger.............even though you are in freshwater, if you leave it in the water for the season, yes, paint it. Your boat may not accumulate barnacles, but boats left in freshwater can grow a healthy beard of plant and algae slime. If you do paint it talk to other boaters and boat shops about the best paint to use (ablative or hard) that will also be environmental friendly/acceptable.

 

[john6206]

Do I need to remove all the old paint? How do you do that?
Almost seems like I can just get it wet and wipe.

I guess I need to do some reading.

 

[john6206]

Your boat may not accumulate barnacles, but boats left in freshwater can grow a healthy beard of plant and algae slime.

And zebra mussels.

 

[sail sfbay]

Knock off any loose paint with a scraper and, using either a sanding block or a dustless DA sander, lightly sand the entire bottom with 80-grit sandpaper. Spend a little extra time on any high or uneven areas. Try to achieve as smooth of a surface as possible to minimize underwater drag. Check out these youtube videos and get personal protective equipment including body/head suit, gloves, booties, eye protection.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Just to be clear, in most cases you just want to prep the surface, not remove all of the bottom paint. Be sure to power wash it at the end of the season. Pics would greatly help you get accurate advice

 

[Sailfanatic]

Lightly sand, coat any bare spots, then one coat overall.

 

[john6206]

i Can post pictures tomorrow, my memory is that the bottom is in great shape in terms of smooth and even.

do I have to use the same type of paint as before, or even the same brand?

 

[sail sfbay]

........my memory is that the bottom is in great shape in terms of smooth and even......do I have to use the same type of paint as before, or even the same brand?

If the bottom paint is OK then I would NOT paint. When you do repaint, follow the instructions above and USE A SIMILAR ablative paint recommended by divers, other boaters, boat yards and chandleries for Lake St. Clair.

Lake MI bottom paint advice - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum

The Boating Forum - Lake MI bottom paint advice - Hey All- Am a relatively new boater and into my second season with a used 30' Pacemaker sportfish. It looks like I need new bottom paint and I really could use some bottom paint advice. The boat is slipped in the water from April till October in...

www.thehulltruth.com

 

[sail sfbay]

Just to add.........dive on the bottom mid-season to inspect the paint and clean the bottom. Of course, you can always hire a diver to do that. Cheap insurance.

 

[john6206]

Or just pull it up on the ramp.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Ask the locals yards what is best. There are a couple of paints that the anti fouling properties will remain effective while others anti fouling dry out after 60 days out of the water. If painting do wear protective gear

 

[john6206]

Here are some pictures of my bottom (that’s not a phrase I ever thought I’d write in an internet forum!).
it is very smooth and even. Other that there is paint on it, I would say it is ready for paint. Previous owner said other than one season in the Florida keys, it’s been a Michigan boat it’s whole life.

Not knowing anything at all about bottom paint, the last picture is the reason I believe it to be ablative paint.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Looks like ablative to me. Your bottom (the boat) looks growth free. Should be able to paint over it but product compatibility might be a concern.

 

[sail sfbay]

Thanks for the photos....now we have a clearer idea of the paint condition and it needs a bottom paint job.

 

[rgranger]

I would put some 80 or 100 grit on one of these...

Give it a quick once over to knock off the really loose stuff... then put a sheet that you don't mind destroying under the boat and give it a quick pressure wash. The sheet will catch what gets knocked off so you don't pollute the environment with toxic stuff. Let it dry out and paint the bottom then wrap the sheet in a plastic gag and toss the sheet. Then go sailing.

I've used this before...

Jamestown Distributors

www.jamestowndistributors.com

It was "okay". There might be better options. On my H26 I get a growth of slime after about two weeks that easily sloughs off with a brush on a broom handle.

About once a month I walk around my boat in the slip and brush off the bottom. Without the bottom paint, I'd probably have to haul and scrape.

r

Edit: Also every now and again, I put on some swim goggles while at anchor in a cove and I dive on my boat with one of these....

... and clean up the spots and can't reach with the brush on the pole.

When you are all done with the second coat of bottom paint... and you have a little left in the can, add a third coat to the leading edges of your bow, keel and rudder. Those areas tend to hit things and get the paint knocked off quicker.

 

[rgranger]

... Also!!!! Never dive on your boat while in the slip at the marina, especially in fresh water. If some joker has DIY'ed his electric system and has the return wired to ground, you could get electrocuted at the slip... even if the offending boat is several slips away.

Electric shock drowning - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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