Preparing to put on bottom paint

[doug]

Ay recommendations on preparation of surface before putting on new coat(s) of anti-fouling paint? How many coat(s) will 1 gallon cover on the typical 22?Thanks for your help, from a rookie just getting started.

 

[Chuck K.]

Cat 22 paint coverage

Hi Doug,One gallon of Micron gave me 2 full coats, plus another band of about 1 foot at the waterline, and I have about a litle less than a quart left for touch ups.

 

[LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com]

Painting

I'll assume you don't have any blisters to repair. I'll also assume you already have anti fouling paint on there. If that's the case, you really want to make sure that the paints are similar. I've heard of bad things happening when two dissimilar paints are applied. Maybe others can elaborate on that. Chances are the previous owner used a basic paint but if there's a way to find out, do it.You'll want to sand the previous paint anyway you look at it. Cover yourself head to toe (including respirator as opposed to dust mask) and rough up the old paint. When you're done, wipe the whole thing down with acetone and start painting. Fun, fun, fun!I have a 27 and can get two full coats plus with one gallon. LaDonna

 

[Joe Ford]

a few bottom paiing tips

Before you buy anything or start sanding, go to your local chandlery and talk to the paint expert. Ask lots of questions, take some pictures of your boat's bottom if you can. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!!! (yes, I'm shouting)Have a diver clean the hull a day or so before pulling it out of the water, Well worth the 20 bucks or so, You'll save time and elbow grease. Sainding is a pain.... avoid if possible. If you must sand, wear a full body suit with respirator and face mask. Next time, I'm going to use chemical stripper and a scraper to remove the old paint. Most boatyards make you skirt the boat if you're going to be sanding. Be carful not to gouge the gel coat. If you open any blisters, let them dry out before laying in the filler. A hair dryer may speed the drying process. You don't need to rough the surface if you're painting over old paint. If you remove old paint down to the gel coat, first apply an epoxy primer so there will be a chemical bond between the new paint and the bare gel coat. There is a time factor when you use primer. Follow the paint's instructions regarding sanding.Tape the water line with the 3M blue or green tape. Key word here is" fine edge." Bottom paint is nasty, use cheap rollers, just throw them away, don;t try to clean. Have the store shake the paint a day or so before using. One gallon should be plenty for your C22. Two coats plus an extra layer at the water line and the leading edges of the keel and rudder. Have fun.

 

[Charlie]

barrier coat epoxy

Doug,If your just starting out do what I did, go to a lot of places and talk to a lot of people. To much info is never a bad thing. I'm in New England salt water and was heavily advised to do a barrier coat before the bottom paint.I used a chemical stripper and plastic putty knifed ( an old ice scrapper worked well for a while). I also used the open grit type sanding pad that is normally used for drywall sanding. They worked extremely well smoothing the bottom. I used Interlux products and followed the directions. They have a booklet that explains things very well. When I hauled out last year the bottom washed down and looked the same as when I put in. Its quite a bit of work, but I am lucky enough to be able to keep the boat in my yard and work at it at my own pace.Good Luck.