Bottom Painting
Laura Bertran (LBertran@npr.org)
Tue, 28 Sep 1999 10:55:56 -0400
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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There was a recent post asking about painting a P15 bottom but I
accidentally deleted it and can't find it. Anyway, a friend and I just
painted the bottom of our P15 and I have a few observations.
We also own a power boat that we keep in a slip in Annapolis and have
gained a lot of experience painting that bottom every March. I would
strongly recommend using one of the Ablative or Copolymer bottom paints
available. All bottom paints wear away and need to be replaced periodically.
Regular bottom paints wear away in chunks, leaving an uneven finish which
has to be thoroughly sanded for repainting. They also create paint build up
which after a few years has to be removed. These paints lose their
antifouling properties when the boat is hauled out of the water. Ablative or
Copolymer paints are different. They wear away evenly, like a bar of soap,
leaving a smooth finish and avoiding the problem of paint layer build up.
These paints retain their antifouling properties even when the boat is
hauled out and stored on land. When these paints have worn away sufficiently
to make recoating necessary, a very light sanding is all that's needed to
prepare the bottom for painting.
We used a water based, ablative paint that we have always used
successfully on our power boat, Woolsey Neptune 2, to paint the P15 bottom.
The fact that this paint is water based makes it environmentally friendlier
and easier to clean up, but I believe the finish may be too soft for a
trailerable boat. We painted the bottom last Thursday, put the boat back on
the trailer on Friday, launched and sailed Saturday and Sunday, beached the
boat on a sandy beach. The paint wore off the skegs and the areas that ride
on the trailer bunks. Maybe if we had let it cure a few days longer, it
might have held on better.
I think that the oil based ablatives like Interlux Micron CSC or Pettit
ACP 50 might have a harder finish that will more successfully withstand
trailering and beaching. Luckily, all of these paints are pretty compatible
and can be used one to overcoat another, so when I need to repaint I will be
able to try an oil based ablative.
Preparation of the P15 bottom for painting consisted of a power wash to
get the algae off and then a LIGHT sanding to give the paint something to
adhere to. If you've ever waxed your bottom you will need to use a dewaxer
to remove any trace of wax or the paint won't adhere.
I hope this answers the question. If not let me know and I'll try to get
more info.
Laura Bertran
1988 P15 #1703, Scout
Upper Potomac and Chesapeake Bay
lbertran@npr.org