Dirty Bottum

[amanphoto]

Hi all,

i have a 2005 Monterey 250cr. The boat is in perfect shape with no blisters on the bottom. The boat sits in a slip all summer long and when i pull it out in the fall ifs furry. Not to mention the speed loss. I want to bottom paint it.

I have some questions.

1. It's $250 to acid wash the bottom. Do i need to acid wash it if i'm going to sand the bottom? If i leave the dirty, i know how far to sand up the side.

2. Since the bottom is in pristine condition, what do i have to do to bottom paint?
Do i sand it rough, spray interprotect 2000 to seal the gellcoat and bottom paint.

3. What bottom paint is recommended for best performance? I was told sailboat bottom paint gives better performance.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Dirty Bottum

If you use the boat every 2 weeks at WOT it really reduces the build up. Freshwater growths

I only go from 54 to 49 to 50 GPS after 4 months in N Y. & there is treated sewage in the dock area.
A stiff brush & fitted goggles at anchor will do wonders for removing the slime.

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Dirty Bottum

I took it out half way threw the season and cleaned it. I also brush the sides regularly to remove build up. The growth takes about 10 to 15 mph off. I know its not a speed boat, but it really reduces time plane.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Dirty Bottum

My 2 bits . . .

Do barrier coat then a high performance antifouling paint I recommend ePaint EP-2000.

The problem with boats in fresh water is that they will develop blisters after about 10-15 years of seasonal storage in the water. So, barrier coat is the way to go.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Dirty Bottum

when it comes to the final choice for the anti-fouling paint, ask someone at YOUR marina who knows what he's talkig about. The paints are made for different marine environments.

because antifouling paint has metal in it, you will need to be sure your "zincs" are correct, again for your environment

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Dirty Bottum

There should be difference between Fresh , Brackish or Salt waters.

We did know of some people making their own Copper paint for the bottoms.

If you love being Green. There are bottom paint that slowly disolve off. That is supposed to break loose the growths. Never spoke with people that had good results in fresh water use.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Dirty Bottum

OK, Since you have left it in the water and it did not get blisters, a barrior coat is unnecessary. BTW - Sanding it could make it suceptable to blisters. So, scrub it down well with a brush, soap and water, and use a primer, before you bottom paint it. Pettit no-sand primer is pretty good. Now choose an antifouling paint. I like the ablative paints, but a few questions to the slip mates and the owner may yield a recommendation. Use masking tape to get a clean edge.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Dirty Bottum

OK, Since you have left it in the water and it did not get blisters, a barrior coat is unnecessary...

Do NOT follow this advice. A barrier coat is IMPERATIVE. Just because you haven't developed blisters yet, doesn't mean you won't in the future. You need an epoxy barrier coat as tpenfield mentions above. As far as the actual paint to use, I agree with checking with the locals.

Do NOT continue to run your boat with a dirty bottom. Chevy Vortec heads/valves, do NOT like lugging and damage will result. Don't ask how I know.

 

[shrew]

Re: Dirty Bottum

If you store the boat in the water, it should be properly painted with an antifouing paint. If you're going to use anit-fouling paint it is strngly advised that you barrier coat it first. You WILL need to sand the hull properly prior to applying barrier coat and/or anitfouling paint. The best bet is to first decide on the paint that best meets your needs, then following the paint manufacturers instructions for application. Review all of the application steps for both barrier coat and bottom paint and follow THOSE instructions, not those of the folks on a forum.

Almost every paint manufacturer advises a proper sanding to both remove any residual modl release from manufacturing as wel as to create a good abrasive surface for the paint to adhere to. Walk around a boat yard when the boats are all laid up. Look at the boats that have a decent chunk of anti-fouling paint missing. If you can see down to somewhat smooth gelcoat, that is an example of an improperly aplied antifouling paint. When the paint is properly applied, it will not fall of in chunks. The edges where teh chunks have falling off, now create more resistance. Some guys will just paint over that and it will look teh paint has 'potholes' this is taking a bad istuation and making it worse.

Doing it the right way is expensive and time consuming. Doing it the wrong way is MORE expensive and time consumming in the long run. don't listen to 'short-cutters'.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Dirty Bottum

OK, Since you have left it in the water and it did not get blisters, a barrior coat is unnecessary. BTW - Sanding it could make it suceptable to blisters. So, scrub it down well with a brush, soap and water, and use a primer, before you bottom paint it. Pettit no-sand primer is pretty good. Now choose an antifouling paint. I like the ablative paints, but a few questions to the slip mates and the owner may yield a recommendation. Use masking tape to get a clean edge.

Blisters take about 10-15 years to form . . . So, a 7 year old boat will probably not show blisters at this point, but in all likelyhood the process is hard at work. adding a barrier coat will avoid thier eventual formation.

I assume that this boat is in fresh water, so an eco-friendly bottom paint is more advisable then those nasty paints we 'cocean guys' use. ePaint is an eco friendly paint and works wicked good.

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Dirty Bottum

Yes it is in fresh water. Lake Ontario.

I was going to add the EP-2000. Is this something I can do? Spray or roll?

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Dirty Bottum

The marina wants $100./foot to do the boat. That's 25k.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Dirty Bottum

Do you mean $ 2500 for the boat or $ 25000 ?

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Dirty Bottum

Shop around before commiting to a true Epoxy barrier coating & then the outer coating.

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Dirty Bottum

Sorry. It's going to be $2,500

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Dirty Bottum

$2500 for a 25' boat that's been sitting in the water for a number of years without paint sounds like a reasonable price. You have 3 steps: return to virgin bottom, prime/seal/whatever virgin bottom, paint. next time, just paint.

When I got my 21', it was a virgin bottom, and clean b/c it was a trailer boat. The top-line marine shop wanted $1600 and the low budget boat yard $800. I think it was about $400 the second time at the top-line shop but I supplied the paint (which is around $180 a gallon).

chances are, if you try to clean the bottom yourself, whoever paints will charge you something to clean anyway, since their warranty is depending on the paint sticking and they can't depend on your methods.

Specify the number of coats.

 

[hostage]

Re: Dirty Bottum

Small world after all, I work in Webster at a large printing company that I will leave unnamed.

Another great solution is dry slipping. Avoid the paint, build up, and blistering. Keep in mind Anti-fowling paint does not keep the birds from roosting and making a mess of your boat. Also it is hard to sink a boat on land.

I store my boat at Empire Storage for $40/month then launch it for $270/season pass at South Point. I think it $20/launch if you don't do the season pass. I am usually able to pick up my boat, launch it, and be out on the water before someone who has a slip is able to. When I use to slip it was putting your stuff in the cart, hauling it to the boat, cleaning the boat, and then going out.

Where do you slip it? Sutters, South Point, or Mayers? Also my old mechanic does stuff for pretty cheap, he looks a bit rough around the edges, and he has painted many boats.

On a side note, you could always wipe better

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Dirty Bottum

Yes it is in fresh water. Lake Ontario.

I was going to add the EP-2000. Is this something I can do? Spray or roll?

You can do the EP-2000 roll would be good.

Do the barrier coat as well and pocket the cash. Usually barrier coat is done with 3 coats . . . so around $300 in material.