Bottom paint

[BALANCE]

I'm gearing up (actuallly started today) to paint the bottom. I was wondering as my nose was 5 inches from the hull, whilst sanding, how I tell what kind of paint is on there already. Ablative or not. I ask because (obviously) I want to repaint with the same kind.

[Hirilondë]

If a course wet rag or Scotch Bright pad easily removes paint it is ablative. If not, it is some type of hard paint.

[BALANCE]

So, if it is ablative, which is my suspicion, what's the goal?, get rid of all flakes?, extra coat at the water line? where smooth - just rough it up? I'm sorry for such basic questions. Although I did the bottom of my first boat for 10+ years, I was young and far less into detail and doing it right. I managed to never have to sand SCOUT the one time it happened. All my work on her was above the waterline.

PS It still tastes the same! (that's why I think it's ablative) :)

[Hirilondë]

Flakes? Something besides the bottom paint is letting go if you have flakes. I just clean the bottom with water and a Scotch Bright pad, then paint. I do 2 coats on high wear areas like at water line, leading edge of keel and the rudder. One coat on the rest of the bottom.

[BALANCE]

I'm sorry to be belaboring such a seemingly basic task.

David, when I say 'flakes' it is probably more accurate to say chips. Last night I learned from the previous owner that every two years he applied two coats of Trinidad Blue with 75% copper from West Marine. With that and google I am concluding that he has been using a modified epoxy paint – but I am still not 100% sure.

I will post some pictures tonight of my progress on the bottom to back up what I am experiencing. As I'm sanding I will come upon a dot, some are inverted and some stick out. When the sander hits these, they open up and I end up fairing these out to quarter size views of the gel coat. This is happening most frequently along the water line – lots of chips too and those fair out to areas the size of my arm. The leading edges are another place where this is happening.

I've spoken with Petit and because of my harbor; they are recommending their Utimate SR 60% copper. My harbor is known as an underwater greenhouse because of the resource recovery plant right there. I am out in the mooring field and so my water should be fresher, cooler and maybe a little less fertile. Since I will be sailing predominantly Long Island Sound with a once a year excursion as far East as Maine, should I go ablative or non ablative? I can see that ablative would be easier to maintain than an epoxy based. Am I right in saying that ablative means no epoxy and 'non ablative' means epoxy based?

What would be best for the boat? cuz whatever the boat wants….

[Figment]

I was happy with the performance of Ultima SR in similarly fertile water last year.

[Hirilondë]

An ablative paint is very soft and it wears away on purpose. It is definitely not an epoxy, but then not all hard bottom paints are either.

You could very well just have chipping paint, as it is a hard paint. If you choose to stay with one, then just give the bottom a good sanding and continue. Some day you will want it stripped, when is a matter of opinion.

I am sold on ablative for now. But with the environmental regulations developing as they are, that may not be allowed soon.

[BALANCE]

Would it be ok to put ablative paint on top of whatever is on there? That pretty much sums up what I'm asking. I will continue to sand the way I have been.

[Hirilondë]

In most cases it is OK to put ablative over hard. Read the directions for the ablative in mind though. Micron Extra which is what I use says it is ok.

[Idon84]

While we are on the subject of bottom paint. What kind of paint would be recommended for a dinghy that sits on the trailer 50% of the time an on a mooring the other 50% of the time? I would love to have the ease of an ablative but it would be easily removed when put on the trailer. Is a hard paint the only way to go in this regard? I used Pettit unepoxy last year because I had a can laying around but it didn't seem to give me any protection at all and now I'm removing all of it.

[Hirilondë]

I would love to have the ease of an ablative but it would be easily removed when put on the trailer. Is a hard paint the only way to go in this regard? .

Yes, I think so. Ablative rubs off so much so that it would be a terrible choice in my opinion. I used Vivid on my dinghy. As a nesting dinghy, having bottom paint that doesn't come off from contact with other stuff is very important. It isn't wonderful in regards to anti-fouling, but it seems a good compromise for the application. I will post some pics in a day or 2. I am painting it right now.

[Idon84]

That's what I figured... Thanks,