White Bottom Paint

06Rinker270

Currently have black bottom paint and I want to go white.  Does anyone have a negative experience or opinion on white bottom paint?  I will be keeping boat on a lift.  I saw the discussion started by DZ but interested in others experience or opinion.  Located on the Potomac River.    

Will I have to use a primer first?  Thinking about going with Pettit vivid.  

Thank you

Cableguy Greg

My friend and neighbor at the marina with a 270 has white bottom paint. I believe he used the Vivid as well. I think it looks good.

MarkB

You may have to strip off your old bottom paint. It's not good practice to change products and paint one on top of the other. You may get everything flaking off, and you don't want to waste your money that way.

frenchship

If you know what type of bottom paint you already have, then you could find what is compatible with it 

06Rinker270

I doubt I'll be able to find out.  Why can't you paint over?  It will flake even if I do a black anti fouling?

Any other solutions besides stripping?  There is only one layer, painted only once.

rinker312

If you have ablative paint on it now you should just be able clean it up good and paint over it. I have done it many times and never have any flaking problems. 

frenchship

Some bottom paint are compatible  with others and some need to be removed. If your not sure of what you have. Better remove it otherwise it will peel off.
look at this chart.
http://content.westmarine.com/documents/pdfs/WestAdvisor/Bottom_Paint_Compatibility_Chart_2012.xls.pdf

06Rinker270

And removing requires soda blasting or similar?  

Black_Diamond

If you mismatch paints you'll just end up with an expensive mess. You'll probably have to have it blasted off, rebarrier coat and then your anti-foul paint.

rinker312

I guess I have been lucky. I had no idea what was ever on mine and I have been using ablative paint from west marine and I have never had any flaking at all. 

Dream_Inn

If you look at the chart, basically unless you have one of the fancier racing paints, something such as a multi-year ablative should go over it.  I have bottom paint on mine that came with the boat.  I am unsure as well, but planning on just touching it up with a WM multi-year ablative.  I keep the boat on a lift, so no big deal, but thought I would just touch up a couple little spots (really only need a pint or so).  This will at least keep paint on it so it is not a mess the day I sell it.

06Rinker270

Going to follow you Dream and do the same but in white which I am trying to find now. May go with Pettit ultra in white.  On a lift so hopefully no problems.  

A mechanic told me I should put on primer first.  Anyone have an opinion?

rinker312

If you already have bottom paint then you can go right over top. If this was your first time putting bottom paint on then you need to go through several steps of prep primer etc.