Painting needed???????

[orlowsks]

How often should you paint the bottom. I've read different ideas like every year, every three years, and also never as long as you touch it up every year. This boat only sails in fresh water and probably never has been painted since its inception in 1970.
Thank you

[poopdeckpappy]

I bought my boat in July 07, the bottom had a year maybe more on it. My bottom cleaner has been telling me for the last 2 months that it's getting about that time.

So I guess I about 3 yrs

[T37Chef]

In the middle bay area I'm doing it ever other year. My base layer is black so if I start to see signs of it I know its time. (the two top layers are blue)

[AdamLein]

Don't know much about fresh water, but there certainly is life in rivers and lakes. How often to paint depends on how tenacious the environment is, and what sort of paint you've currently got on. I have an ablative-type paint on my boat in the PNW and I'm hoping to get three seasons out of my 2.5 coats.

When was the last time you had a look at your hull?

[captbillc]

i sail in lake superior's clear fresh water. i helped paint the bottom in 2001 & i bought the nimble 30 express from the owner i sailed with when he decided to sell it in 1993. i have not painted the bottom. only slight touch up in 8 years !

[hellosailor]

"probably never has been painted since its inception in 1970. "
This is a daysailor that is hauled out after every sail & kept in your backyard?

Bottom paint is antifouling paint and needs to be reapplied to prevent marine growth. Once a year IS typical, once every two or three years is considered a long time for most folks. You paint when the old paint has worn off or stopped killing marine growth.

If you have a boat that has been in the water for more than ten years without new antifouling paint--call the EPA, there's something else incredibly toxic in your local water. I'd be outright afraid of it.

[lancelot9898]

For the past 24 years my boat has been in the water of the Cheaspeake Bay full time with short haul outs of about a week or so to apply bottom paint At first I was hauling out on a yearly basis and then it went two years and finally over the past 12 years it's been every three years. I use multi season ablative paint and just scrub the bottom without any sanding and then apply a couple of coats. Since I'm getting a build up of paint, I may just scrub the bottom this time and re-launch without putting a fresh coat of paint. Any comments?

[hellosailor]

With enough paint--you said a couple of coats--and the buildup of one ones not being totally worn off, there's no surprise you can get 3 years. "Water" is a very different environment from one place to another.

[Traveling Light]

I saill in Lake Michigan out of Chicago, from Monroe Harbor. We are moored on a can and go out at least twice a week during the sailing season. Since the boat is in fresh water, on a can and not a pier, and is used often - the boat never builds up more than a slight growth after 5 - 6 months. I have never painted the bottom since I have owned it - about six (6) seasons. If I ever got interested in racing I might swim around it and clean the bottom. On second thought probably not...

[DrB]

1. I use Interlux Micron 66 Ablative Paint
2. I sail in New England (MA) waters
3. I use my boat EVERY weekend from May 1 to November 1
4. My sails are long, usually 5 to 6 h averaging 25 to 30 nm/sail depending on the wind
5. I go out about 40X a year on our boat
6. We haul our boat at the end of the season
7. My boat sits on a mooring when not in use

I repaint my boat every season. First I wet scotchbright the bottom, rinse off the loose film, allow to dry and then repaint. I add a second coat on the leading edge of the bow, fin keel, front of the skeg, the whole rudder, as well as 6 inches around the waterline.

When the boat is hauled in the fall, the leading edges and parts of the rudder are partially splotchy/bare (down to the barrier coat) and the and the rest of the hull has evidence of light/partial splotchiness. Except for the top inch of the waterline, the boat is pretty clean with no strongly adhered stringy growth. There is some sliminess to it, but it easily rinses off with a garden house or weak pressure washer.

DrB