VC17 prep. question

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sbailey64

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Aug 31, 2009
16
Hunter 27 Annapolis, MD
I just bought a sailboat that has been bottom coated with VC17 over the past ~10 years. It has 5 coats of barrier coat underneath. At present, the bottom is absolutely smooth and clean of growth. My question is, how do I prep the bottom for another coat (or two) of VC17 in the spring?

In looking in the archives, I see everything from 'just clean the bottom with detergent' to various forms of sanding or solvent cleaning as prep. What is the general (current) consensus?

Thanks,

Steve
 
JerryA

JerryA

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Oct 17, 2004
549
Tanzer 29 Jeanneau Design Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
Powerwash?

I just powerwash mine. Usually in the fall before storing away. In the spring, a few weeks before launch, I roll on a new coat, two toward the waterline. I've went a couple years between recoats in Lake Erie. Might be different in MD.

JerryA
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,704
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
I wipe my hull down with paint thinner and slap another coat on.

Serious racers will do some sanding.
 
Roger Long

Roger Long

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
I use this paint and find that a sandpaper size piece of Scotch Brite pad in a sander handle works great. Keep a bucket of water handy to rinse it often. No toxic dust and it takes it down to a good finish. This paint is thin enough that you don't have to get much off. I can do my 32 foot boat in about 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour. Follow up with a rub down with the thinner recommended in the instructions C 172 I think but check my memory.
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
No need to 'prep' reapplication of VC17 other than to remove (powerwash or scrub) the crud, etc. off. The solvent in VC17 (acetone) will deeply soften the previous coat and will allow the old to completely 'bond' with what you apply. You certainly dont need to 'sand' VC17 as that only removes part of the old coating which will 're-soluablize and mix with the new. If the new surface turns out 'rough', just take a shiney clay (magazine type) paper and 'burnish' the final coat smooth. The burnishing will 'smear' the roughness peaks and transfer it into any 'valleys'. The smoother you can apply/burnish VC17 the less adhesion of crud you will have and if it get 'cruded' the faster the crud/grass/fouling will 'release' when you get up to hull speed - thats the 'beauty' of VC17.
 
Ken Palmer

Ken Palmer

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Dec 3, 2003
544
None None Rochester, NY
RichH is absolutely correct. Why take off perfectly good old VC-17? At about $60 a quart, I try to make it last as long as possible. The marina power washes the bottom after haul-out, cleaning the crud off. In the spring I look for any missed spots and gently wash with water and throw-away rag. I then roll on the VC-17, getting as much transfer from the roller to the hull as possible. I can do a 33 foot boat with 1.5 quarts. It may be thin, but so what? It gets the job done.
 
DougM

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
My boat gets a good power washing when its hauled out in the fall, and the bottom usually looks good after that. In the spring I give it a thorough cleaning with a scrub brush and water. Then I wipe down the surface with Isopropyl Alchohol ( about $ 1.50 a pint at the drug store) It evaporates a bit more slowly than acetone. After it is thoroughly dry I proceed to roll on a coat of VC-17. No other prep has been necessary. When the boat is in the slings and ready to go back in the water, I roll VC-17 on the pad areas and the bottom of the keel where it has been sitting on the cradle.
The yard guys let it sit for about a half hour tnen launch it.

I'mcurious about you people in Chesapeake Bay... Can you really use VC-17? I heard that it really doesn't work. Or, is this something that works in the upper bay but not further south?
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,704
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
I haver also heard that VC does not do well except in the Great Lakes.
 
F

filthy liberal scum

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May 18, 2004
259
J-boat 42 conn. river
vc -17 is for fresh water only.

vc-17 will work in the far northern reaches of the bay where it is fresh water. pooles island and north. south of that you should use vc-offshore. when i raced my boat i used offshore with execellent results. power washing with just a rub with a scotch brite pad is the only prep needed. after application only work needed is burnish w/600grit wet sand paper.
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,704
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
One learns something new every day. I thought salt water sailors did not use it.
 
S

sbailey64

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Aug 31, 2009
16
Hunter 27 Annapolis, MD
Hi Ken,

Do you sail your boat in freshwater, saltwater, or something in-between using VC17. Some folks are indicating VC17 may not work where I live on the Chesapeake.

Thanks,

Steve
 
S

sbailey64

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Aug 31, 2009
16
Hunter 27 Annapolis, MD
Re: vc -17 is for fresh water only.

Hi Jim,

I mistook your posting with Ken from NY. Obviously, you are on the Chesapeake near Annapolis.

Thanks,

Steve
 
W

wes carroll

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Oct 18, 2008
7
oday 30 Toledo Ohio
I have used vc17 for about 9 years now in the greatlakes with fantastic results. I do little prep work, wash the hull down, sand if I find something rough, that is about it. The thinner for vc17 is Isopropyl alcohol, I thin mine 1 to 1 and apply 1 coat. Keep it covered in the can, as it evaporates quickly.
 
F

filthy liberal scum

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May 18, 2004
259
J-boat 42 conn. river
only used vc-17 one season

my boat was in Havre De Grace at the time. vc-17 was a lot cheaper. i found that even though i traveled to annapolis a few times i picked up barnacles. just not enough copper in it to keep them off. i switched to offshore and never had any problems after that. i liked it because its ablative and i did'nt have to deal with the build up thats a problem with other racing paints such as baltoplate.
 
S

sbailey64

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Aug 31, 2009
16
Hunter 27 Annapolis, MD
capn jim said:
my boat was in Havre De Grace at the time. vc-17 was a lot cheaper. i found that even though i traveled to annapolis a few times i picked up barnacles. just not enough copper in it to keep them off. i switched to offshore and never had any problems after that. i liked it because its ablative and i did'nt have to deal with the build up thats a problem with other racing paints such as baltoplate.
Click to expand
Jim,

When you went from VC-17 to VC Offshore, what prep did you have to do to the bottom?

Thanks again,

Steve
 
F

filthy liberal scum

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May 18, 2004
259
J-boat 42 conn. river
just power wash!

power wash and of course scrape any barnacles off and make sure its clean where straps were under the boat from the travel lift.
 
S

sbailey64

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Aug 31, 2009
16
Hunter 27 Annapolis, MD
capn jim said:
power wash and of course scrape any barnacles off and make sure its clean where straps were under the boat from the travel lift.
Click to expand
Hi Jim,

In looking at the Interlux site, they recommend when going from VC 17 to VC Offshore...to remove the VC 17 first. I realize that was not your experience as you essentially when directly over the VC 17 with VC Offshore. How successful was this? Did the VC Offshore adhere ok? Have others that made this simple switch been as successful?

Thanks again,

Steve
 
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