Bottom Restoration

[edgutgesell]

The prior owner of my boat kept the boat at a saltwater slip for about 5 months for one season. It did not have anti-fouling paint. Needless to say, when the boat was pulled at the end of the season, barnacles and other marine growth had taken over the bottom. He had the bottom pressure washed which knocked off the barnacles but left most of the barnacle rings and when the rings are scraped off, there is a brown circular stain remaining. There also seems to be some damage to the bottom gel coat. My question is:

What steps are necessary to restore the bottom to new or as new condition? I would like to approach the restoration in phases so I can use the boat this season. The boat is now on the trailer and will be launched in saltwater. I have no plans to keep the boat at a slip for more than a week at a time in the future!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Bottom Restoration

Ed, I do not know a good way to restore the bottom. I always sanded the barnacle stuff off and replainted with A-F paint.

If the gel coat is damaged, you may need to apply a high-build epoxy primer to restore it's water proofing. You will then need to decide if you want to leave the grey primer as the finish coat, or cover it with some marine Polyurethane paint.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bottom Restoration

imho, you need to sand the best you can regel, and A/F bottom paint. the right week of the year, can leave you with the same condition. when the barnacles are spawning, it can happen overnight almost. there is a old wives tail that 3 days, is the max to leave in salt water without bottom paint.

 

[edgutgesell]

Re: Bottom Restoration

Thanks guys,

I appreciate your response. I am considering soda blasting, but want to put off the repair until the end of the season. If there is some gel coat damage, will putting off the cleaning and refinishing until fall cause more damage. I don't intend keeping my boat in the salt water at all now. Just launch, go fishing, and pull it out at end of the day.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bottom Restoration

The only real damage would be some pitting from removing the little *#@&*%rds, this won't be a problem if you don't leave it in the water.
If you're keeping it on the trailer except when in use, then you can wait until you have the time to do something about it.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Bottom Restoration

Ed.

kinda the best way to bring it back to new is .. yea soda blast it..

Find what repairs are uncovered with this and repair with some gel paste ( cabosil and gel-coat ) if its not too bad.

Do you want to keep the bottom gel finished ? or would you like to bottom paint it ? AF paint will not protect from blistering..you would need to barrier coat with epoxy ( interprotect 2000 kinda thing )

Got pics ?

YD.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Bottom Restoration

I just had to clean up a hull that had some growth on it, it wasn't too bad but after the initial pressure wash, I wiped it down with clorox bleach and a rag, that removed about 90% of the organic matter left behind by the pressure washer. The worst part here was that several of the rings were actually pitting that penetrated the gelcoat. I sanded and filled the rings with thickened epoxy and then prepped it for a fresh bottom coat. The rest of the hull was fine, there was only a few spots that needed to be epoxy sealed.
I have one waiting for me though that will need a complete re-seal with an epoxy paint, then a good AF paint.
Even though I don't leave my boats in a slip, I like the added protection of a few tough layers of paint. I run in sandy and shallow water a lot, so every little bit helps. I'd rather scuff the bottom coat than chip the glass or gelcoat if I brush bottom or strike something in the water. The river where I launch is always full of twigs and sticks floating downstream. I can't say whether or not the added paint coat actually helps, but I have not had any glass chips or damage since I started coating my hulls with paint. I usually do a heavy coat of epoxy paint on top of a self etching primer, then I scuff sand the surface and put on my antifouling paint.