Important question about bottom of my sailboat

[wakesurfboy]

Hello.

I'm new here and just buy new performance sailboat and I want to keep maximum speed.

I will use the boat on fresh and cold water, 5 month a year and because the boat is protected with Vinylester, can I use it without water barrier and antifouling paint?

For the algae, I think about scuba diving once a month to clean the hull?

Anybody? Ideas?

[mitiempo]

If it is trailered you don't need bottom paint as it can be cleaned each time you take it out, but if you leave it in the water you should use a good bottom paint.
Brian

[scottyt]

depending on the Vinylester and how well it was done, then yes that should be okay for a barrier coat. as for antifowling dont think cold fresh water will help, because it might buy a few weeks, but then it will get bad fast. on the chessy bay props and shafts get totally covered in as little as a month, and thats on the north end of the bay where it is fresher and colder.

bottom paint does not have to be terribly expensive or too time involved, if you do it right. decent paint at 200 bucks a year, plus one day of work is not a big deal considering how much other work you need to do.

[wakesurfboy]

Originally Posted by scottyt

depending on the Vinylester and how well it was done, then yes that should be okay for a barrier coat. as for antifowling dont think cold fresh water will help, because it might buy a few weeks, but then it will get bad fast. on the chessy bay props and shafts get totally covered in as little as a month, and thats on the north end of the bay where it is fresher and colder.

bottom paint does not have to be terribly expensive or too time involved, if you do it right. decent paint at 200 bucks a year, plus one day of work is not a big deal considering how much other work you need to do.

About performance? Antifouling paint look more like sand paper compare to gelcoat?

[SteveInMD]

You can definitely go with no paint if you "dry sail" the boat, but you need a boat yard that will put it in and take it out every time you use the boat. There are yards that will do that here on the Chesapeake Bay.

You may be able to go with no paint in fresh water. It really seems to depend on the body of water. Some have very clear water water with very little growth, while others are murky and have considerable growth. You could always try it without paint and see how it goes.

Not all bottom paints are the same. There are plenty of types of racing paint that if sprayed on properly and wet sanded are as smooth as can be. However the paint does add some weight. If you roll on cruising paint it wont be smooth or fast.

[wakesurfboy]

Actually, the boat will say on water.

About waxing, many coats? Also, cleaning the bottom on scuba diving exit?

[SteveInMD]

Waxing?

Yes, you can clean the bottom with scuba gear.

[captbillc]

i haven't put on bottom paint since i got the boat in 2003. the PO had painted it 3 years before that. when the boat is hauled in the fall the bottom is cleaned with a hi pressure water & soap spray. this cleans the bottom very well. up here on cold & clear lake superior not much is on the bottom anyway. when i do paint the bottom i will use petit hard racing coper bronze.

[mitiempo]

Tell us what kind of boat it is, a larger cruiser or a smaller boat.
Brian

[wakesurfboy]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Tell us what kind of boat it is, a larger cruiser or a smaller boat.
Brian

40' Sailboat so it's large for me... I see some people that put wax on bottom and clean every month or so.

I think the best solution it's to try wax for the first season and see. If there is to much maintenance, I will consider water barrier and antifouling like VC Offshore or high perfromance antifouling only.