Painting bottoms

[Walter]

My boat will be in fresh water primarily (trailer sailing). I do plan to be daysailing some bays, etc. Which bottom paint would be best, and what is a barrier coating bottom paint?

 

[Bob Camarena]

None?

If you're going to be trailer sailing and not leaving the boat in the water for more then a few days at a time, why not go bare? Most of the racers in my club who store their boats out of the water do so and are faster for it. Particularly in freshwater you won't be getting anything but a little slime even during a period of a couple of weeks in the water.

 

[Wanderer138]

Since you're trailering, don't worry about it

Unless your area is warm and the boat is going to be in the water for weeks at a time, bottom paint is probably not worth the hassle and expense. Ditto for the barrier coat.To answer your question, barrier coat is supposed to help prevent your hull from absorbing water and developing blisters. Bottom paint just keeps sea creatures (barnacles, zebra mussels and such) from growing on the hull. To keep slime and algae off, the bottom paint must also contain algaecide and other special biocides (not all bottom paints do).Since you're not in the water that long, these things won't have time to start growing. When you haul the boat, just give the hull a good wipedown below the waterline before it dries. Good luck!PeterH23 "Raven"