Is bottom paint necessary in fresh water?

[Omatako]

Whilst being a long way from an expert on the subject, I was once told that fresh water is far more likely to cause osmosis and gel coat blistering because the water is less dense and thus has an easier time migrating up follicles of glass fiber.

As far as personal experience with goes, I lived on an inland lake many years ago and took a boat from the coast that lived in a marina for several years with no blisters and in two years in fresh water it was like a golf ball.

This doesn't perhaps prove anything but it seems reason enough to put a decent coat of anti-foul on, hobbly gobblies aside.

Andre

[Fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Omatako

This doesn't perhaps prove anything but it seems reason enough to put a decent coat of anti-foul on, hobbly gobblies aside.

Unfortunately, since anti fouling paint does not block water from reaching the hull nor is it designed to, it plays little or no role in the mitgation of osmotic blistering.