bottom paint newbie

[dev6315]

I have never had a boat in which i needed to bottom coat. My 250 has never been painted, and does get trailered on a roller trailer, however salt and brackish water trips and layups are very possible.
I am looking for advice as to what type of paint to use and processes with tips. I am looking for a hard paint that wont rip to shreds when I take her on and off the trailer. Any and all advice is much appreciated. The boat is on stands and off the trailer now to get this project going. I just want to make sure I do it right.

 

[AKBASSKING]

I have been doing reserch on this subject as I am getting ready to strip and re-paint my boat bottom. I came across the Interlux guys at the Miami Boat show and they were very helpful. Even now as I am getting ready for the project, I have called them with questions and they are always happy to help.

You can start by reading the information on their website. They have a step by step instructions.

http://www.yachtpaint.com/usa/default.asp

With my boat I already have paint on it. So I will be doing the following:


1. Strip the bottom with Interlux 299E,
2. Inspect for blisters and repair if necessary
3. Wash Bottom with 202 solvent wash
4. Apply 4 coats of InterProtect 2000E,
5. Apply 2 coats Micron Extra


The key to appling the bottom paint is the "wet thumb" test, i am told. You will learn about that in reading the material.

The Micron Extra allows you to keep you boat in and out of the water. Many antifouling paint requires you to keep the boat in the water. This stuff, I am told is made for folks like you and I that keep our boats on a trailer. I am going the full course so in coming years, all I will have to do is powerwash, hit the bottom with a green scotsguard pad, then re-apply a new coat.

You have to re-paint every few years. Oh and it is expensive. The piant is around $250 a gallon (I need 1 1/2 gallons).

Good luck.

 

[frankn88]

Is your boat going to be in the water for any length of time? If not, there's probably no need to paint the hull. Not sure what you mean by a "layup", but just because you're running in salt or brackish water doesn't mean you need bottom paint. Bottom paint protects mainly against growth of organisms.

 

[dev6315]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you guys. Thanks for the repsonses. There is a chance the boat will be in the water for more than 2 weeks but not longer than 3 or 4. Do you think I even need bottom paint. Like I said before, all my past boats have been pulled every time. We plan on cruising quite a bit with this one, which means more nights in the water, salt and fresh. Thanks again

 

[skibum]

If it were me, I wouldn't do it. Bottom paint adds drag. 3-4 weeks might get you a little buildup of slime and maybe a few barnacles on the metal parts, but you can put it on the trailer and clean it.

I dry stack my boat, and wish the bottom weren't painted. Its a PITA to keep up if you don't need it.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I wouldn't do it either. Depending on where you boat, you'll get varying degrees of growth - from none/virtually none to a little bit. But nothing that can't be taken off easily. The more you use the boat during those few weeks, the less growth, too.