I had to repair a crack in my keel line on 1977 Mac 25. I started removing the blue, chalk-like antifouling paint the previous owner had applied 4 years ago so I could apply a fiberglass patch (did so successfully). I got overzealous and decided to remove it all the antifouling paint which, after weeks of scrubbing and sanding is still there in patches and streaks along with a copper-colored hard paint beneather it. This boat is moored on a fresh-water lake in Kentucky most of the year. The bottom hull is now fairly smooth due to my sanding. I've test painted a square foot with some epoxy racing paint to see if that paint would stay on (it has for at least 24 hours as of this posting but who knows what it will do once in the water). The painted square is actually rougher than the unpainted hull at this point. Question: do I really need to paint the hull or can I leave it in its present condition (ugly but smooth) given that the boat is moored in this fresh-water lake and can be easily removed by trailer to was the hull off with water once or twice a year? Any comments appreciated. One worn-out pair of arms and shoulders, tx jsd
Need for Bottom paint?
- Thread starter oro
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Paint it
I would think you would need to pull your boat more like once a month for cleaning. Up here on the G Lakes we get a fair amount of growth on a bottom in 5 months with bottom paint. I would expect warmer lakes to be worse. Ask around your area and see if anyone goes the route you are considering.
I would think you would need to pull your boat more like once a month for cleaning. Up here on the G Lakes we get a fair amount of growth on a bottom in 5 months with bottom paint. I would expect warmer lakes to be worse. Ask around your area and see if anyone goes the route you are considering.
Algea Calcium Deposits
algea will grow on an unpainted bottom and depsosit calcium which is rough. It happens slowly. It can be removed with hydrochloric acid. You can also get growth on hard bottom paint. An ablative will shed the deposits rather easily. I went too long between bottom paints and had a lot of work to get the bottom clean enough to repaint. But if you haul and pressure wash once a monthor so you can get by without painting.
algea will grow on an unpainted bottom and depsosit calcium which is rough. It happens slowly. It can be removed with hydrochloric acid. You can also get growth on hard bottom paint. An ablative will shed the deposits rather easily. I went too long between bottom paints and had a lot of work to get the bottom clean enough to repaint. But if you haul and pressure wash once a monthor so you can get by without painting.
Well, since you sanded the old paint off
you should epoxy the the bottom with 5 coats. You have compromised the bottom by sanding into the gel coat. Early Mac are know for blister problems and you are in warm fresh water, which is the worst for blistering. I would give her a coat or two of bottom paint to keep the slime off the bottom. The short of this story is you shouldn't have taken the paint off. You have started a chain of evens that means a lot of work for you.
you should epoxy the the bottom with 5 coats. You have compromised the bottom by sanding into the gel coat. Early Mac are know for blister problems and you are in warm fresh water, which is the worst for blistering. I would give her a coat or two of bottom paint to keep the slime off the bottom. The short of this story is you shouldn't have taken the paint off. You have started a chain of evens that means a lot of work for you.
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