VC-17 bottom paint

[Ken Honeycutt]

Now that my 31 is hauled out for the winter, I was wondering about bottom painting next spring (planning my expenses ahead of time). I put a coat of VC17 biolux on this last spring and except for a couple of places where they hauled the boat (slings) - it still looks in pretty good condition. Question - can I get away with just touching up the places that look a little thin and forget about doing the whole bottom? This is Lake Michigan where the Zebra Ms can wreck havoc. This is my first year with this boat and while there is a lot of info on VC17 on the web - I can't find any information on longevity.

 

[droopy]

I would not use VC-17

unless you race. Then you need to do the whole bottom with it. You have to strip all the old paint off and paint it with VC-17. Then you have to wet sand it to a smooth finish. Don't forget to clean the bottom every month. You could pick up more speed from using a folding prop.I don't know why you graet lakes people us it. It is not worth the grief.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Here is quote

from the Interlux Website that would seem to indicate it's an annual paint, not a multi-season:"...VC17m Extra is easy to apply by roller or airless spray and dries in minutes allowing for same day launchings. When it comes time to recoat the next year no sanding is required, just clean and apply. Now that’s easy"I have had good luck contacting Interlux in the past, and getting answers to specific questions. You may want to give that a try by using the "Contact Us" button on their website.

 

[Grizz]

Bottom's up!

I too am on the hard in The Windy (Crowley's) w/ a coat of VC-17 that also "looks pretty good". I've thought about rolling the dice each spring and touch up just the thin areas (leading edges of the keel, rudder & bow) and leave the remainder in the hands of the zebra-scum gods. And still each spring the whole bottom gets a coat of 17.I know I'll buy/use at least one can for this 'thin area technique'; I also know I can buy an additional 2 cans and do the entire bottom (leaving just enough for the yard to roll the spots where the cradle pads were).The 'piece of mind difference' is @ $70 for the additional 2 cans and about 2 hours for taping the waterline and painting the extra square footage. This way, each fall, when the boat is hauled and sprayed, I get to say "wow, the bottom is still in pretty good shape!"This topic is one of those "To Each His Own" areas, with proof visible on the bottoms of your neighboring boats: some are still glass smooth, some 'in pretty good shape' and some looking like the surface of the moon (pocked, pitted, rough and textured).It's all about weighing time, money and intended results. Only 5 1/2+ months until we can go back in! Good luck and take care.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

To Grizz

Thanks for the response! I'm at Crowley's myself - over behind the ships store. Was at Hammond last year (where I bought the boat). One of my neighbors said he never bothered bottom coating his boat, just had it blasted off every fall with a high pressure washer and didn't worry about it - funny because he seemed real particular about the rest of the boat. Thats what got me thinking about just touching up my hull in the spring - but like you - I think I would rather have the peace of mind that there isn't a herd of Zebra Ms hitching a ride. Guess I'll just bite the bullet and spring for the VC (takes about 5 cans). Keeping the spiders off the topsides is bad enough (don't know if you have that problem where you're moored, but Monroe Harbor is infested with them).

 

[Grizz]

Small world

My winter perch is on the SW area of Crowley's yard, across from the inside/unheated storage; great spot considering the 'luck-of-the-draw'factor. I'm on a can @ Monroe during the summer as well; previous to this boat, I raced beer can out of Hammond. Small world. A neighbor recommended 'Spider Bomb' or something like that and 2 applications (early spring/mid summer) seemed to do the trick, as far as the interior. Don't think I'd want to be making sandwiches while spraying it, but a treatment just prior to an extended absence seemed to work. You're right, it's a bit more than 3 cans each spring, but haven't had to crack open a 4th. Going to try a Pettitt knock-off this year, from a case bought cheap @ WM last spring. Love those introductory offers!Take care.

 

[duality]

ken & grizz

just curious, how do you justify paying more for winter storage than you pay for you cans at monroe each year?? you should try skyway yacht works about 500 feet south of crowleys and one more bridge (railroad bridge) it is about half the price and is family run. nice people (no relation, really!)mikeps, mast up

 

[Grizz]

Kicked myself...

...'cause I didn't know Skyway existed and for "1/2 the price" I could've funded the new Harken mainsheet system I hope Santa sneaks down the chimney. I found the Skyway website (very informative/nice) and unless I've got politico-fuzzy math, there is a savings, but it's more like $200. Perhaps next year and there's the small matter of moving/storing the cradle. Thanks for the heads up, nice to have options! Take care.

 

[Jeff20979]

I Would Not Use VC-17

Droopy:This reply is for yourself and other salt and brackish water sailors that question justifying the cost of the product. It is a factor of location. The environment of the Great Lakes is one of very soft (rain and snowmelt) water. The product is compounded for that and does a great job. We have totally different plantlife and critters, mainly Zebra Mussels, to deal with. Therefore, it enjoys a great reputation and many feel it to be worth the cost.We flatlanders probably spend less on VC-17 than you folks have to lay out on an annualized basis for the replacement of standing rigging, fittings, and electrolysis damage in your environment.Happy Holidays and Spring Refitting

 

[Wanderer138]

From a long time VC-17 user

IMHO, VC17 is great stuff as long as it's used as intended. I got almost three years out of two coats in the St. Johns River (warm fresh water) but had tiny barnacles after four weeks in the Indian River (warm, high-nutrient salt water). They came off easily with the back of a wooden brush.Unlike most antifouling paints, VC17 stays effective after long periods out of the water. My boat spent almost a year on the trailer with no ill effects apart from slight discoloration which went away after a few weeks back in the water.Touchups (bow, leading edge of keel and rudder are a snap even though VC17 dries very quickly. You do not have to sand before painting or between coats if you had a fair hull to begin with. That's true for all paint finishes. I faired and sanded my hull five years ago and it's still smooth.Painting with VC17 can be a pain because it dries so fast. The trick is not to treat it like regular paint. Instead of using a paint tray, use a funnel to pour the paint into a large clear plastic ketchup squeeze bottle with a snap cap (44 oz.) Add the copper powder and mix by shaking. Unsnap the lid and squeeze the paint onto the roller or brush. As long as you snap the cap shut when not in use, the paint will stay liquid for a LONG time (I have some that's two years old). The brush or roller will dry hard but that's OK. As soon as you squeeze on some liquid paint, the dried paint softens and you can resume where you left off. Good luck.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Baysailor2]

Spiders...

are a big problem in some places on the Chesapeake as well, Ken. Since I use the boat only on the weekends, they can get pretty bad if left unchecked. I wait until after dark then do a deck patrol with a flashlight in one hand and a can of Raid flying insect spray in the other. Every web dweller found gets a dose. Second deck round is with a wire wheel type bottle brush to eliminate the webs. Any web found in the morning indicates that I didn't get all the buggers. Their favorite place to hide on the hull is up under the rub rail. Around the dock we use Ortho's Home Defense. It helps a lot, but I do the flashlight/Raid thing on the ones around my slip and don't usually see any the second night aboard.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Spiders

Around the middle of the summer I went on a spider destruction mission. Sprayed under the rubrail with an entire can of Black Flag. There was a massive abandon ship drill by every size, shape and species of spiders. This year I'm going to make sure there are no spider nests under the rub rail before launch - so I know what you mean about under the rub rail.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Thanks to all for the responses

Lot of good discussion on bottom paint - appreciate all the input.