H23.5 Hull paint

jbmayer · Oct 5, 2008

Paint and brakes..

The Hunter was not green, so what you are seeing is Paint not gel coat. To fix it, the solution is to strip and repaint..a major process. Unless you are getting a great deal, I'd factor that expense into the price. Also, I live in Florida, and feel the 23.5 does not need brakes. I trailer at least 50 miles to each coast, 150 miles up to Jax, and 300 miles down to the keys with no issues on braking. Not sure why you would want to add the expense and maintenance of brakes, unless the law mandates it for your state.

Pete17858 · Oct 5, 2008

Anti-fowling?

Is that green paint only below the waterline? If that's the case, it's just anti-fouling paint. What maintenance it needs would depend on what kind of anti-fouling paint it is and whether you're planning on keeping the boat in the water.

Mike Howell · Oct 5, 2008

Green Hull Paint?????

Mark,

Are you talking about 'bottom' paint? I'm assuming you are. It would look as you describe. If it's an 'ablative' paint, it should be still good. If you can see spots of the hull where the paint has worn away, you need to repaint. If you are going to keep it in the water, I'd add another coat or two before I put it at the slip or mooring, for good measure. Check with the locals to see what kind and type of paint they use. What works in one area, might not work in another. If you are planning to keep it on the trailer, I wouldn't worry about it.

Most 'trailer-sailboat' bottom paints are 'ablative'. They are designed to wear away over time exposing fresh toxins as they wear away. The real benefit for boats kept on the trailer is the Ablative paint keeps its effectiveness, even when stored on a trailer. Ablative paints also look 'thick'. Most ablative paints are compatible over most other types of paint. Most other types of bottom paint become useless once the 'dryout', making them a poor choice for a trailer kept boat.

Without seeing photographs or looking at your boat, I'd GUESS its an ablative bottom paint and shouldn't be a problem. Old paint is a good thing to me, If there was a problem with the hull, it would be problably be hidden under 'new' paint.

NOTE: I've had 3 boats with bottom paint. The paint was alway 'old' when I bought the boats. When I sold the boats, all 3 had FRESH bottom paint, not to hide a problem, but to make the boat look better and more 'sellable'.

When I owned a H23 (wing keel), I bought ablative paint since I kept it in the water 9 months out of the year. The paint was good for a few years.
It was recommended that I paint the first coat using red paint and all additional coats (3 or 4) blue. When the red starts to show through the blue paint, its time to repaint with blue. I neved tried it but it makes sense.

If the broker

isn't helpful, Can you call the owner? The owners should be able to tell you anything you want to know. The broker should know about the type of bottom paint, if he doesn't....be wary of anything he tells you.:Liar:

If you plan to keep the boat in the water, you'll need bottom paint. I keep my H23.5 on the trailer and don't have any bottom paint on it.

Regarding trailer brakes, I have no idea. I've never used them. I've towed 5 boats for 20 years, just give yourself plenty of room to stop. I'm not sure the brakes are really needed on the 23.5

Congrats on your find, I really like my 23.5. :dance:
Where will you be sailing it?

Mike Howell
Belles 3

seadaddler · Oct 5, 2008

Trailer Brakes

Well it depends on the vehicle doing the pulling of the boat and trailer with all
the heavy equipment and how far you will be traveling.
Stopping is the most important part of trailing,ask me about a friend who was pulling his 18 ft power boat with his car and tried to stop at a traffic jam up,no he did not stop in time and did a lot of damage to every body else plus his boat trailer and car.
So sorry to disagree with others but it really depends on the pulling vehicle doing the pulling of any kind of trailer,how far you are going and at what speed.
Adding brakes you will need to most likely need to change the whole axle and add all the electrical equipment,not cost effective better to trade in for already setup with brakes.
I have been trailering big trucks,campers,boats some 40 years and don;t ever get in front of any of these guys when in any kind of emergency stopping,kiss your ass goodbye they are not stopping any time soon.
Nick

Rick Webb · Oct 6, 2008

The Paint is Supposed to Look Like That

Don't worry about it. If you are going to keep it in the water you will want to redo it.

As for the brakes the Hunter trailer came with hydraulic surge brakes. At weights getting close to 4,000# you need brakes. It would not be worth switching to electric brakes I am dubious about their performance on a boat trailer where they are repeated ly dunked in water. Please do make sure they work it may be my family in front of you when you need to stop.

Forrest Clark · Oct 6, 2008

Mark,
I also have a '93 23.5 and my trailer didn't come with brakes either. I have been to Beaver Lake also and if you intend to trailer in that area, you will definitely need brakes. I live in S. Louisiana and there are no hills or mountains. That means much less wear on the vehicle brakes. I almost put a brake kit on my trailer a few years back. I was going to purchase a kit from http://www.championtrailers.com/index.html If I remember correctly it was around $400 or so. The existing axle was the type needed to add brakes so all I was going to need was the brake kit. That link is to a company near me but I am sure you could find someone closer to you. As far as the paint, I get a quart of blue and lay that down in one coat, then come back with a gallon of green and when I see the blue coming through, it's time to repaint.

Good luck with the new boat. My wife loves sailing and we even brought our kids out when they were infants. The boat is very safe and I always let newcomers on my boat know that they will not get wet. It might seem that it heels quickly but it stiffens after about 15 degrees.

Mike Howell · Oct 6, 2008

That's 'bottom paint'

It's antifouling paint. It's nothing to worry about. Since you plan to keep the boat on the trailer, you don't need to paint it. If you were going to keep it in the water, I'd and a couple of coats. You'll love the Hunter 23.5. My boat is a 93 model.

Beaver Lake..... Is that near Eureka Springs? The wife and I go there every 2-3 years. You probably need brakes!

Here on Ladys Island (Beaufort) SC, the land is flat. In fact, its called "the Low Country". Sometimes I forget people might actually live in the mountains

.

Lived in Springfield, Mo 25 years ago.

Mike

Doug L · Oct 15, 2008

Re: The Paint is Supposed to Look Like That

If the trailer does not have brakes, get a look at the end of the axle near the wheel hub. If it has a square flange with 4 holes in it, the axle is made so brakes can be bolted on. If there is not a flange to hold the brake you would have to replace the axle, or I suppose a flange could be welded on but the trick would be to get it positioned properly. I would be very reluctant to tow this without brakes, I bet you are going to have 3500-4000 lbs behind you and that is a lot of weight to stop. My Hunter 26 has surge brakes, and when towing it with a Jeep Liberty, it definately needs the brakes.

H23.5 Hull paint

Hawk4661

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jbmayer

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Pete17858

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Mike Howell

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seadaddler

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Hawk4661

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Hawk4661

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Rick Webb

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Forrest Clark

Mike Howell

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Doug L

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