Power roller Bottom paint Application

[dtalent]

I'm in Chicago awaiting the pending 6-12" snow but thinking about spring! I use VC 17 bottom paint and was wondering if anyone ever used a power roller to apply the bottom paint? I was thinking about a product such as a Wagner Smart Mini roller where the paint is stored in the handle and then fed into the roller. I know VC17 recommends a foam roller and so far the only thing I found was a 3/8 nap roller. In the past I mixed the paint and used a 2L bottle to wet the roller. Works okay but if its windy it evaporates very fast. Let me know if anyone ever tried this.

 

[CABixler]

Well I'm here also waiting for the snow. Lucky we're home for Super Bowl tomorrow. Anyway we have used Vc-17 here for about 15 years. This what my wife and I found the best solution:
Thick rollers are bad
Wide rollers are worse
Big trays are bad

Solution: The little cheap 4" roller kits from Ace or Home Depot. The ones with the package that can also serve as a small mini tray. The key is small and use the little tray cover to loosely keep covered. We also have a couple 4x6 inch Tupperware trays. The rollers are yellow foam typically.

We mix with a drill and paint mixer that chucks up to get the copper powder well mixed. We also have the flexible plastic paint can pourer that snaps on the edge of the can. We only pour out a few ounces at a time and keep the can lightly covered with the loose lid between uses. We then go at it. Usually 2-3 of us. And we KILL it and are done less then two hours. My Bene is a 331 that is 33'11" and can do in less then two cans. Also we have a few 2" cheap bristle brushes.

Finally remember vc-17 dissolves itself. So keep everything in a plastic tote for next year! It may be hard but the brushes and rollers soften the moment you put them in the fresh paint next year. I used to use their solvent to thin slightly to account for evaporation but found for the last 6 years denatured alcohol works just great. I keep a near empty can of vc-17 duct taped to my cradle with a 4" brush for the yard to use over the 6 pads when launching. They also will have some if you forget and will slap it over the exposed spots. It dries in seconds.

I buy it only on sale and a case at a time. When I am hauled out in fall it's still clean. We do one coat even though two are recommended for Lake Michigan one well applied works great.

I'm stored at 31st just in case you might be.

Best Regards Craig.

BTW I'm not sure why but my wife is so much faster and neater then me at painting. While I am taping the water line she already is half done with the major areas.

 

[dtalent]

Thanks Craig, I pretty much do the same as you but feed the roller out of the 2L bottle. I saw a guy using a power roller last spring during prelaunch prep and was just wondering if anyone else tried that method. Looked a lot faster as he wasn't constantly feeding the roller as I was. I'm wintered at Hammond, at Burnham in season. You say your wife helps you...hmmm, I'll have to work on that.

 

[DougM]

I do my 323 with a six inch skinny roller, and use about 2 1/2 quarts of VC 17. I could get by with 2 if I didn't double coat the leading edges of the keel and rudder, and 2 coats along the water line. I use a narrow, shallow roller pan and cover most of it with a piece of aluminum foil to slow down evaporation. I try to paint only on a calm morning. Normally masking, painting and cleanup takes about two hours at the most. I leave a partial can and a brush on the cradle, and when the yard people lauch the boat they pick it up, paint the pad areas, go on break, then put it in the water when they return. The paint is dry in 20 minutes.

 

[CABixler]

Thanks Craig, I pretty much do the same as you but feed the roller out of the 2L bottle. I saw a guy using a power roller last spring during prelaunch prep and was just wondering if anyone else tried that method. Looked a lot faster as he wasn't constantly feeding the roller as I was. I'm wintered at Hammond, at Burnham in season. You say your wife helps you...hmmm, I'll have to work on that.

Yeah I am so lucky as she loves sailing and will do the paint. It's also nice if I get my kids to help and we knock it out in 45 minutes. I used to store in Hammond and like it but 31st is sooo easy ?

 

[cymeyer]

Wow, I need to figure out how to do this better! We have a 321 and usually put on 4 cans. Likely too thick.
I like to use a thin nap roller....