trailer boat bottom paint

[Douglas Marshall]

I have an O'day 22 that needs new bottom paint. The previous owner kept her in the water so he used antifouling paint. I now keep her on a trailer and the bottom paint sloughs everytime I launch or load. What should I use to replace the antifouling?

 

[Skipper-Cool Breeze]

Smooth "hard bottom" sailing

I'm not sure about your area, but let me tell you my experience in the Great Lakes. I trailer 90% of the season. Since the boat was painted with anti-fouling, I keep it up. The key is to use a much harder bottom paint. Read the labels (or the manufacurere web sites) looking for bottom paint that advises dries hard. The key to making this work will be hard the first time, proper hull preparation to give the new paint something to stick well to. I am currently using VC-17m. It has been much less sacraficial (read that wearing off) and gives me a good smooth slick surface. Good luck

 

[JOHN POPP , 1975 MARINER]

AGREE WITH HARD BOTTOM PAINT

I AGREE WITH THE SKIPPER FROM MICHIGAN. WE ALSO HAVE A MARINER AND KEEP OURS IN A "DRY SLIP" SO WE LAUNCH EVERYTIME WE SAIL. WE USED WEST MARINES STANDARD BOTTOM PAINT AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH LOSING PAINT DURING LAUNCH.. GOOD LUCK AND SMOOTH SAILING