bottom paint ??

[redhead78]

Hey, hope you all escaped the great wind storm we had in the northeast. My question, I have micron csc paint on my hull. I am in the water june thru october in salt water. Within 8 weeks I have a green beard growing on the waterline. This paint is very expensive, is there a better value to combat barnicles and all this growth?? I used this as the PO told me it was what was needed for this area. Is this what you call ablative?? Do I need to paint every year?? Red

[bljones]

You need to leave the dock more often. It is ablative- the more your boat moves, the better it works. Do you scuff up the paint prior to splashing the boat in the spring?

[redhead78]

,I am at a mooring, should I repaint every year, or should I just hit the waterline and high wear areas, and bad spots?

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by redhead78

,I am at a mooring, should I repaint every year, or should I just hit the waterline and high wear areas, and bad spots?

When most people use an ablative paint, they should do the very first coat in a different color than the other coats. This gives them a way of telling how much the paint has ablated and where the high wear areas are. The typical high-wear areas are the leading edge of the keel, the leading edge of the rudder, and the water line. These areas usually need to be painted every season. The rest of the hull may not require it, and that depends a lot on how much you sail the boat.

As BLJones points out, sailing the boat will help keep the growth on the boat to a minimum, by two ways. First, it will allow the paint to ablate—taking any growth that is starting with it. Second, it will expose fresh paint, which is going to be more effective at preventing growth from occurring.

I'd point out that Micron CSC might not be the best choice for your boat. It doesn't begin to ablate very much until you get up to 6-7 knots. A better paint would be one of the Petit ablatives instead, since they start to ablate at a lower speed.

[redhead78]

Thanks for the advice, which petite would you recommend.Using this can I just hit high wear areas or the whole thing?.... Red

[Fstbttms]

Umm... call me crazy, call me insane, but have you ever considered having a hull cleaner do regular maintenance on your boat?

Just sayin'

[Brucerobs2]

There are several that could work well for you, but its important to check compatibility. Check the Petit web site for as they have a compatibility chart. I have used Petit Hydrocoat for the past few years in the Chesapeake with success...As previously noted, they "work" at slower speeds relative to Micron CSC. If my ablative didn't work under 6 knots, my boat would have a permanent beard too.

If the existing paint is in good shape/smooth, and is compatible with what you want to change to, you should be able to get a couple of years out of ablative paint with minor spot sanding/touch up. But paint the whole thing. A quick scrub with a scotch brite pad is all that's really needed to expose fresh paint before splashing the second year.

BUT in order for any of these paints to work/ablate, the boat has to move regularly, especially in early/mid summer when barnacles are reproducing rapidly, and all season for slime. If your does not get out as much as you'd like, get someone in the water to clean it regularly as nothing will stop the growth entirely.

Be sure to get that prop scraped clean too as it will be a barnacle ball if ignored.

[marianclaire]

I add an extra coat or two just in the high wear areas as listed above. That way you are not repainting just because those areas are worn off. I guess that is not a problem if you haul each fall and can touch up spots. We stay in the water all year so less hauls = less expense. Dan S/V Marian Claire

[sailingdog]

I would agree on either the Hydrocoat or the Ultima SR. The Hydrocoat is easier to deal with as it is water based IIRC.

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by Brucerobs2

....Be sure to get that prop scraped clean too as it will be a barnacle ball if ignored.

Better yet, spray the prop and shaft with a product such as Pettit zinc coat http://www.pettitpaint.com/fileshare...ds/1179320.pdf and you wont have to worry about scraping it.