Bottom paint, if and what kind?

[BOXERDOGTY]

I recently bought a new to me 89 300 WE. It was salt water kept in NC. The PO did a pretty good job of keeping it clean. When I got her, just some slime on the hull and a few small barnacles on the machinery. I have since pressure washed and scraped and it's all pretty clean. It is in high and dry now and will eventually be on a lift behind my house. It will probably never be in the water more than 4 or 5 days at a time and a lot of times just for 1 or 2 days. The bottom paint is pretty worn and some layers flaking. Some gel coat is showing through in a few spots. One is about 3" in diameter. If it was to go back in the water full time a new bottom job would be a no brainer. But since it is not, my questions are thus:

1) Will it hurt to do nothing and let the current paint continue to wear away?

2) If not, what about the areas of exposed gel coat?

3) Should I have the bottom media blasted and seal the left over gel coat somehow?

4) If I need to repaint it, is one type of paint better for mostly air exposed vs mostly water exposed conditions?

Please help, all my prior experience has been with non-painted trailer boats! Needless to say, I want to spend as little as possible on this.

One last question. I pressure washed the prior name off of the boat, But there is a lot a adhesive residue. I tried laquer thinner without much luck, what else would be a good option? Acetone, MEK, ???

I'm posting this on THT as well if you follow that forum.

Thanks,

 

[kaz911]

1. Ask the PO which brand and type of Primer was used - and which bottom paint.

Some Primers mix well with others - other primers are specially made for a certain type of anti foul.

If he does not know - I would get it taken down to the gel coat and repainted with a primer + hard racing type bottom paint if you plan to keep it mostly on land. Just check that the type of bottom paint/primer will be happy on land. But most hard racing paints will. Keep what ever is left of the can of hard racing paint - so you can do touch ups from where the paint will get abuse (trailer rails and if you ground the boat) - then that should keep you quite well for at least 5-8 years.

And yes it can hurt if you don't get the exposed layers protected. The gel coat has been roughed up before when the original paint was put on and for safety I would get it repainted.

If you have a really good yard doing the work - you can get them to put on different colours of the same primer and hard racing paint. Then it is very easy to see how many layers you have "burned" through if you hit some sand or otherwise damage the paint.

 

[chandalen]

Lowes / Home Depot sells this orange cleaning stuff near their paints and paint thinner. Its amazing. It will not hurt GelCoat, but will hurt bare fiberglass.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Here is my story on my 300DB:

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/24963-300DB-Restoration-Continues-Bottom-Paint

 

[chandalen]

AKBAS:: whats that funny yellow sign you have that I dont and shouldnt have? /ducks

 

[AKBASSKING]

AKBAS:: whats that funny yellow sign you have that I dont and shouldnt have? /ducks

You got me here...The wide load sign?

 

[BOXERDOGTY]

Here is my story on my 300DB:

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/24963-300DB-Restoration-Continues-Bottom-Paint

Very interesting read. If I learned anything, it's that I won't be doing it myself!!!

But for my original question, do I really need to do anything at this point other than seal or repaint the little bit of exposed gel coat? I would like to hold off a year or two unless that would cause bigger problems down the road. :huh: