Paint question

[Tommy T]

I am doing the bottom of a Hunter 23. The paint I am using is from West Marine. The information on the can indicates that the boat should be put in the water within 60 days. My question is why does it need to be launched within 60 days. I was planning on painting it this fall and not put it back in the water until next spring. Would that cause a problem if I don't get in back in within that 60 day time period.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

It can essentially oxidize if you wait too long making the copper less available to do it's job. You should follow the directions if possible.

 

[Tommy T]

Thanks for the info Ken. I think I will wait until spring to paint the bottom.

 

[txtowman]

If it is "bottom shield" the color will fade. I did mine 2 years ago and it spends most of the time on the trailer. I missed 1 spot to test it with no paint, and the stuff is great! I had it in for 30 days straight with zero growth and hardly any slime, and the slime came off every time i went out which was every day except for one week and it came off then also. I just overcoated it to restore the color, not for more protection.

 

[Warren Milberg]

If for some reason you really need to bottom paint your boat this season and then launch in next season, you can find any number of high quality ablative bottom paints that will remain effective if the boat is out of the water for more than 60 days. I use Petit Hydrocoat, but I think West's CPP ablative can also stay out of the water for more than a season. Whenever my boat is out of the water for a few months or more, and I'm not going to repaint the bottom, I power wash it just prior to launch to get rid of any ambient oxidation on the surface. It also has the added benefit of getting rid of any dirt or crud on the bottom and exposes any areas that show signs of poor paint adhesion.

 

[Tommy T]

There are 2 reasons I was planning on doing the bottom this fall. One, I am going to put the boat up for sale. The boat market isn't too good right now so I am going to wait till spring to finish it and put it on the market. Two, I just retired last May so did my wife. If I am working on the boat I don't get hit with the honey do lists.
Thanks for all the good info from everyone.