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Do I bottom paint?

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:31 pm
by marlenemwa
I bought the '98 X, (the one without the motor) and it is at BlueWater's shop now getting a brand new 50hp four stroke installed. (yeahaa! Thanks for your advice on that)

Question...we plan on keeping the boat in the water (Puget Sound) during the summer months only.

Should I bottom paint?

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:50 pm
by James V
Good place to look for advice. I found that I had some growth on mine after 3 weeks in the water. All that I had to do is scrub it off with a brush.

A little chilly for your area to do that.

Check out this product
Image

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... 29/11204/4

Talk to people in the area and see what they say.

Bottom Paint

Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 8:12 am
by Terry
Since you are only mooring for summer months only you might want to try your first season without the paint and discover for yourself how much trouble it is to keep the hull clean. Once you bottom paint you are committed to maintaining it whereas with waxing your options are still open. I can say from experience that it is a lot of trouble keeing the hull clean without the paint as that is the route I have chose and I also moor in the Pacific Northwest for 4-6 months. This year I am trying the Aurora Marine VS721 anti-fouling bottom wax, I have been in the water three weeks now and I already see algae on the transom. I plan to pull it out on the May Long weekend (May 22) for closer inspection and a quick pressure wash, perhaps an extra coat of wax too. I anticipate cleaning every 5-6 weeks to keep it from becoming too fouled, this may be more effort than bottom painting in the end but I will persevere anyway. Bottom painting may be the route for some but after talking to others in the marina I have heard that hull cleaning is an annual ritual anyway with repainting bi-yearly at minimum so I am still going with the waxing route. I will know by the end of the season if the claims for the Auroa product are substantiated. I think both routes are a lot of work & cost.

Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 10:12 am
by norbert
it is not (only) the question of growth. if you keep your boat in the water you should imperatively paint your hull with an epoxy barrier coat to prevent osmosis! search for "osmosis" or "blisters" on this board. or ask the blue water crew for their opinion. epoxy paint is expensive, and you will need 4-8 coats. but it lasts for 10 years or longer and is the only secure way to preserve your investment. antifouling is painted on the epoxy. 2-3 coats first time, one more each spring should be enough to avoid barnacles.

Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 5:21 pm
by Catigale
I followed the recommendation of Art Reiders at Havencraft and neither bottom painted nor epoxied. I trailered for two seasons and slipped from March through November in cold fresh water in the Hudson river for two seasons. I spent a couple of weeks in salt water too at Cape Cod both of these seasons too.

I pressure washed off small amounts of marine growth and have no blisters.