Specific Question on Re-Bottom Painting

[MaddyDean]

Hi All
I know there are many threads on bottom paint but I have a specific question.
I am 90% finished removing 19 years of paint from this boat and it is with little effort just falling off—especially under the water line. Above the waterline is what remains to be knocked down—that will be finished tomorrow.
I plan to use Ablative paint yearly to reduce the buildup however, since I plan to do two coats;

Here is my question, Should I first paint the bottom with a NON-ablative paint? and one that does not have to immediately be put into the water?

I appears the factory primer is still on as I did not use any solvents just a scraper. However, there are only a few spots where the scraper went just a little (Just a little) too deep—no gouges but definitely and slightly into the gel-coat. This occurred in maybe a dozen areas.

What do you think, should I put a permanent base coat on and then ablative or just ablative all the way?

Thanks.

 

[tobnpr]

I'm assuming you're going to keep the boat, so you should consider an epoxy barrier coat over the gelcoat (Interprotect 2000), then the ablative antifouling.

 

[carterchapman]

Vince,

Some advice I've heard - make the first coat a different color than the final coats. Then you can see when the ablative layers have worn through...

 

[MaddyDean]

Vince,

Some advice I've heard - make the first coat a different color than the final coats. Then you can see when the ablative layers have worn through...

Heard the same advise (read it here) and planning on the different colors. Thanks. Hate the way it looks now while scraped so I really want to get a clean coat on her ASAP.

I'm assuming you're going to keep the boat, so you should consider an epoxy barrier coat over the gelcoat (Interprotect 2000), then the ablative antifouling.

Yes, planning on keeping her. Just picked her up at Thanksgiving so looking to do a lot of things and as correctly as I know how and can--and can afford.

Thanks for the product recommendation, I see WM has 3-gallon for $210, that should be enough for 4 coats on a 280 as Interprotect is requiring.

Thanks again.

I will go with a good foundation coat first and go from there on Ablative.