[Rhodes22-list] Bottom Paint

[Bill Effros]

Bob,

I've been using the ablative Petit Ultima No Slime version and have been 
very happy with it for a number of years.  We have aggressive growth 
here, and taking out a clean hull used to be a real challenge.  I pull 
my boat every 6 months for 6 months.  I slap on another coat of bottom 
paint every time I pull.  And I do mean "slap on".  When it comes to 
painting, I am probably the worst painter in the world.  But I figured 
that only the barnacles would see my work, and that the water would 
smooth out my paint job.  This has worked very well.  I don't sand.  I 
don't prep.  I just roll on and forget.  Any place I miss one year, I'm 
sure to get the next.  I put on the paint just before I launch so no one 
can see what a poor job I have done.  When I pull the boat in the fall, 
there are no barnacles, no growth, and the paint job looks just as good 
as everyone else's.  Then I repeat the cycle next spring.  I have a red 
warning coat under the black coats I add.  Every once in a while I see a 
little red tinge poking through, so I slap on the paint extra heavy at 
that location.

Local knowledge is the way to go with bottom paints.  Some work better 
in some places, some work better in others.  Go with the people who have 
been doing it in your new location.

I have never experienced paint build up.  The stuff ablates right off if 
you move your boat.  Also, it will stick to almost anything.  I might 
prepare Teflon paint, but I wouldn't get too involved with preparing one 
ablative surface to accept a different ablative paint.

Bill Effros


Bob Keller wrote:

> Just brought Yankee Clipper to the marina (Big Water Marina) for a 
> bottom job - it's been 4 years since Stan used Petit Trinidad on the 
> bottom and it held up very well.  The bottom looked great when I 
> pulled the boat.  I'm getting a "salt water" bottom job since I will 
> be moving to Savannah, GA next spring/summer.  So, what should I do 
> with the bottom?  I called the marina in Savannah and they recommended 
> that I go with an ablative paint instead of hard paint like Trinidad.  
> They use and recommended a sanding job and then two coats of Petit 
> Ultima Pro (with biocide).  This can supposedly only be bought by boat 
> yards, but the Petit Ultima is likely not much different.  High copper 
> contect and biocide and using ablative paint will prevent build-up of 
> bottom paint that will eventually have to be dealt with.  They said a 
> sanding and two new coats every 12-18 months does the trck on the coast.
>
> Just wanted to share this with the list and see if anyone has any 
> similar experiences.
>
> Regards,
> Bob K
> s/v Yankee Clipper
>
>
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