Painting a late-model Catalina

[JJ]

Bottom Paint on Late-model CatalinaWe recently bought a 2001 C34. The previous owner said that it does not have a barrier coat -- just a coat of ablative paint directly over the gelcoat. While some books recommend a barrier coat, others say that if we sand the gelcoat to apply the barrier coat, then this will ruin the gelcoat protection and void the warranty. Another C34 owner confirmed this, and said that he used a non-sanding primer over the gelcoat, and then a coat of hard paint, and then 2 coats ablative. My questions: Do we really need to have a barrier coat over the gelcoat? Or can we just leave that ablative paint on it, and apply another coat of ablative? But if we do need to remove the ablative paint down to the gelcoat, what is the best way to remove it? Also, I have been reading these boat maintenance books, and I am confused about some of the terminology -- is a barrier coat the same thing as a coat of “hard” paint? And is ablative paint the same thing as “anti-fouling” paint? I am the painter in the family, but so far I am only experienced in painting around the house. I would like to attempt this project myself, but my husband thinks maybe we should have a boat-yard do this. What do you think? Thanks in advance – JJ

 

[RonD]

West Marine Advisor

... has some articles that might help. Scroll down to "Paints and Maintenance".--Ron

 

[Tom]

Barrier Paint is an epoxy type

paint that is impervious to water (or epoxy like).Its the "barrier coat and you are supposed to apply it directly to the gellcoat (after prep) In theory you only apply it once. Antifouling pints come in all types -- Hard & Modified hard, ablative, sloughing, etc. Ablative and sloughing wear off your boat in time. Hard & Modified hard don't and typically lose their effectiveness if you haul your boat for any amount of time (Winter??). Thus you will need to have to paint bottom every season and then after 10 seasons you've got a lot of useless layers down there that you will most likely have to get off sometime....Its really easy to paint the bottom of the boat for antifouling -- Use a good ablative paint right over the one that is there and you should be fine.BTW, the newer Catalinas have a Vinelyster Resin on the hull which should greatly enhance protection from blisters. If I was hauling my boat every year, I wouldn't go to the extra hassle and expense of adding "barrier" coat, Which I don't have on and I have a '99 C36., it shouldn't be needed withn these newer boats and blisters have become very rare. Plus you have a warantee and if blister are going to show typically it'll show within the 5 year warantee period