When does a boat need to have bottom paint?

[natsgrampy]

I use my boat in salt water.
I don't leave it in the salt water as I trailer it to the launch when I use it.
Should I have bottom paint on it, or is it only needed if I keep it in salt water?
I do run it on the hose and completely rinse the boat and trailer after every use.

 

[ondarvr]

You do not need any type of paint on the hull.

 

[QBhoy]

No. You don't need it, if you don't keep it in salt water.
Avoid painting at all costs....unless you keep her in salt water for the season...

 

[CamdenDave]

I have a 32 ft sailboat that lives in the ocean. The bottom paint keeps crustaceans, algae, and plant life from affixing to the hull. That cannot happen in a day, so you don't need it.

It is also made to rub off and is no fun when you rub against it. It would make a mess of the bunks on your trailer.

 

[Paulywog0667]

Is the boat bottom gel-coated? Is it worn through or need polished instead of paint? You can add color to gel-coat. Which if not mistaken is different than protective automotive clear coat. A lot more floats in saltwater. Dirt and wear seems like maybe a more common thing. I don't know how unless you see primer, why not polishing it would bring it back to what you like. If you're through paint it seems you waited awhile though. Why let the protective finish wear that much?

 

[tpenfield]

Is the boat bottom gel-coated? Is it worn through or need polished instead of paint? You can add color to gel-coat. Which if not mistaken is different than protective automotive clear coat. A lot more floats in saltwater. Dirt and wear seems like maybe a more common thing. I don't know how unless you see primer, why not polishing it would bring it back to what you like. If you're through paint it seems you waited awhile though. Why let the protective finish wear that much?

The OP has not stated any of the deficiencies you are suggesting in your reply. :noidea:

As stated, if the boat is trailered and not kept in salt water, then anti-fouling paint would not be needed and it would help re-sale value if it remains un-painted.

 

[natsgrampy]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't think it would need the paint but just wanted to double check.

 

[Paulywog0667]

The OP has not stated any of the deficiencies you are suggesting in your reply. :noidea:

As stated, if the boat is trailered and not kept in salt water, then anti-fouling paint would not be needed and it would help re-sale value if it remains un-painted.

Because the person asked if they should paint their boat. I was leaning towards maybe trying to buff out the saltwater floaters before buying a gallon of anything. Painting over a gel coat doesn't exactly register to this newbe.

 

[dingbat]

Because the person asked if they should paint their boat. I was leaning towards maybe trying to buff out the saltwater floaters before buying a gallon of anything. Painting over a gel coat doesn't exactly register to this newbe.

anti-fouling paint is a special, copper infused (biocide) paint applied below the water line to keep marine life from growing on the hull.

No buffing or polishing. Just lots of scraping and sanding when it come time to reapply

 

[Paulywog0667]

anti-fouling paint is a special, copper infused (biocide) paint applied below the water line to keep marine life from growing on the hull.

No buffing or polishing. Just lots of scraping and sanding when it come time to reapply

Copper infused would limit invertebrates if they ate it or it leached, but that's about it. Copper kills invertebrates in even low doses. It would stop snails from eating it, but algea would still have a field day. Actually sounds like a neat product though. No coral reefs on the bottom of those boats. Really the main benefit of copper on a boat. A lot of boats in an area and a good chance no snails in the marina too. A little suprised that's even a legal paint. It's like floating pesticides in saltwater. Killing anything that keeps the ocean clean. Lol

 

[dingbat]

Copper infused would limit invertebrates if they ate it or it leached, but that's about it. Copper kills invertebrates in even low doses. It would stop snails from eating it, but algea would still have a field day.

Copper is lethal to plant life as well....the run off from copper sheeting installed on roof peaks is a popular method of controlling plant life growing on roofs
https://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/DIY-Bottom-Painting

 

[Paulywog0667]

Copper is lethal to plant life as well....the run off from copper sheeting installed on roof peaks is a popular method of controlling plant life growing on roofs
https://www.***************/WestAdvisor/DIY-Bottom-Painting

I've never read or seen copper kill plant life. It's often used in aquariums to treat parasite infected fish, but in reef aquariums, even a low dose of copper like a brass fitting would wipe out every invertebrate. Copper is used as a organic use for gardens. It combats molds, but algea doesn't seem like something different than spraying or dusting tomato and pepper plants with it. It's like you're claiming tap water is bad to water plants.

 

[dingbat]

I've never read or seen copper kill plant life.

Time to educate yourself......

Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese, nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) are well known to be essential microelements for the life of plants. On the other hand, elevated concentrations of these metals induce inhibition of various processes in plant metabolism. Cu can occur in very high concentrations that are detrimental or even lethal to most plants. It is widely used as a pesticide in agriculture, and field runoff may easily reach concentrations of several micromolar Photosynthetic reactions, both photochemical and biochemical ones, belong to the most important sites of inhibition by many heavy metals and in particular Cu.

http://www.plantstress.com/articles/...y_i/copper.pdf

 

[tpenfield]

FWIW - I parked my Formula 24 footer with copper ablative paint (re-painted yearly) in the side yard at my house. Kept it there for 7 winters. . . The boat has been gone for 5 years. To this day, there is an area the shape of the boat that grass or weeds will not grow.

 

[Paulywog0667]

No Title

Time to educate yourself......

http://www.plantstress.com/articles/toxicity_i/copper.pdf

Do you mean it might be bad for mushroom corals too? Those technically, I don't think are a fungus though. Maybe I should have assumed the person wasn't asking about salt creep on a finish? Putting copper on your boat is a little like saying jump over the side and wipe the paint line of mold or your floor might be a little more mold resistant if you have that type of floor. It's an organic fungicide. It's on a certain periodic chart if you want to ask a chemist instead of a .com too?

Are you growing mushrooms or mold on the bottom of your boat? If so and you use copper. I wouldn't brag if a paint chip fell by a reef.

 

[dingbat]

Do you mean it might be bad for mushroom corals too? Those technically, I don't think are a fungus though. Maybe I should have assumed the person wasn't asking about salt creep on a finish? Putting copper on your boat is a little like saying jump over the side and wipe the paint line of mold or your floor might be a little more mold resistant if you have that type of floor. It's an organic fungicide. It's on a certain periodic chart if you want to ask a chemist instead of a .com too?

Are you growing mushrooms or mold on the bottom of your boat? If so and you use copper. I wouldn't brag if a paint chip fell by a reef.

Here argue with the manufacturers of the product. I'm done wasting my time with you
http://www.coppercoatusa.com/