Should I have the hull painted?

[5thFish]

Hi All,

I have a SeaPro 238WA with an all fiberglass hull. It's usually trailered, but we keep it in a slip during the summer. It's a new boat with nothing but the original factory gel coat on the hull. This past summer we had a good amount of fouling and the gel coat hull took a bit of abuse with all of the bottom scrubbing. It's probably okay, I'm just a bit paranoid.

Before I put it in the water again next summer, I'm wondering if I should have the hull painted? Is there a protective, antifouling paint that would protect the hull in a preventative maintenance way? Is it worth doing this? Or will I be okay with the existing gel coat for a couple seasons more?

 

[kaferhaus]

Re: Should I have the hull painted?

Any boat that gets left in the water for months at a time needs one of two things, Pull it out every month and scrub the bottom, or have a good coat of anti fouling paint applied below the water line.

I personally hate painting boats. However I have a sailboat that stays in the water year round because of the draft.... even that boat I get in the slip every month or so at low tide and scrub the bottom with a brush. Ever try breathing through a short garden hose? LOL gets tiring after awhile.

Anyway even with that effort I have to have the boat hauled and re-coated every few years. This process is not inexpensive....

IF I ever buy another sailboat it will be a "trailer sailor".... the cost of hauling and painting averages out to $450 a year.... and We only use that boat 6-7 times a year.... add insurance and other maintenance costs and we're likely paying close to $200 a pop....

I'd sell it but with the economy as it is....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Should I have the hull painted?

really not enough info, where, fresh or salt water? how often do you use it?

 

[5thFish]

Re: Should I have the hull painted?

During the summer, we're out a couple times per week. During the winter months about once a month. Salt water, San Diego.

The first two weeks the boat was in the water, it accumulated a considerable amount of fouling. 3 to 4 inches of algae around the waterline, engine, and trim tabs and a good coverage of barnacle "spots" under the waterline and some sort of calcifide tube worm crustation. I scrubbed it every two weeks all summer and when the we took it out of the water I spent a day giving it a good cleaning, the tube worms were a big problem. Next summer I plan to hire someone to do the scrubbing, but I wonder if I should protect the hull first.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Should I have the hull painted?

Sounds like it really needs a good layer of anti-fouling paint.
If not do not be surprised if the gelcoat starts to blister and get permanent stains.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Should I have the hull painted?

yes, you definately need anti-foul paint.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Should I have the hull painted?

Yeah I also think you should bottom paint it.

The only experience I have with bottom painting was on my brothers 41' Velocity.

I used Pettit Vivid black.

It was real easy to do, use one of the thin rollers, looked great.

It took a little more than half gallon.