How Do You Spray On Anti-foul?

[Ducati]

Winter has been already way too long and I can't hold out any more on my spring boat prep questions.

I want to apply Baltoplate anti-foul to the hull. How do you spray this stuff on? What type of affordable machine applicators are available that can be used for this job?

Thanks

 

[tommays]

Theirs no way the ANY yard is gonna let you spray Baltoplate

 

[Ted5610]

Why would you want to use that product? I helped a friend sand it off her J30, 2 years ago. What a nightmare. We payed a yard guy to sand it down to the gel coat. There are many quality products on the market that are a lot cheaper and easy to roll on. Just saying!

 

[RichH]

Usually any yard that permits you to spray any paint will require late spring and after most other boats are launched, the boat must be tented to contain the overspray, and you must demonstrate substantial insurance in case all hell breaks loose.

A pressure pot spray gun is required (pot-on-top is preferred).... you can buy cheapy Chinese pressure pot guns from the net.
"Safest" time to spray is early-mid summer when the yards are empty of boats, due to the drift of 'overspray'.

You can also DIY apply BaltoPlate with a WEST foam roller and BIG polyethylene trowel ... and work up the required 'babies-ass' smoothness just like one applies gel-coat to a male plug mold ... and with minimal sanding with a vacuum chambered 'long board' to keep the 'sanding mud'/dust to a minimum. However a lot of Baltoplate will wind up on the ground when youre finished 'finishing' it.

Find a source that routinely sprays Balto and have it done. Usually the mast has to be dropped and the boat put into an enclosed workspace. .... very expenive

 

[Alan]

I've sprayed anti fouling paint on my boat many times. If you spray any water based paint you will only need a mask. Any other paint will require full body protection and respirator. We tarped off all boats surrounding us and sprayed just after daybreak when the air was very still. I rented a commercial HVLP paint sprayer which did a great job. The paint dries very quickly and can be burnished the following day.

 

[s sauer]

I agree with Allan and many years ago routinely sprayed Baltoplate with a readily available Wagner Air-less sprayer. I dd have the yard set the boat away from other boats and needed to wait for a windless period near the end of the day. It took an hour to tape the water line and tape newspaper up 18" onto the hull, but the air-less spray works effectively within 8-10" of the hull and the overspray is dry as it hits the ground.
All that said, Baltoplate is an effective racing paint and can also be applied with foam rollers, then wet sanded with 400 grit. Once you start using it, it would be a bear to remove down to gel coat to use any other non vinyl paint. It may be compatible with VC17..not sure.... although it is FAST, particularly if wiped down before racing.

 

[Ducati]

Why would you want to use that product? I helped a friend sand it off her J30, 2 years ago. What a nightmare. We payed a yard guy to sand it down to the gel coat. There are many quality products on the market that are a lot cheaper and easy to roll on. Just saying!

It's not cheap but Baltoplate is probably the best anti-foul I have ever used. Last year I paid someone to spray it on and when they were finished wet sanding, the hull was beyond smooth. The growth was virtually nonexistent.

 

[Hippie Sailor]

Back when i raced the Ranger I "sprayed" mine on with a roller, then sanded it. If you sail enough and scrub off the bottom it just gets smoother anyway. Spraying isn't really worth it IMO. Never made the difference in a race, except in someones head. Of couse YMMV.