Bottom paint.....what if you don't know what it is?
BellevilleMXZ
Member Posts: 732 ✭✭✭
My boat will need the bottom paint recoated in the spring.......now the problem is, I have no way of finding out what's on it. Prev. owner has no idea, and has no bill for it. So what's a guy to do if you can't tell what it is, as I have read you should only recoat with same stuff.?
2005 Rinker 270 FV Volvo Penta 5.7Gi
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Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
@MarkB and @ BellevilleMXZ and any other interested boaters out there. I finally got through to two supremely competent bottom coating experts. One at Interlux Paints and one at a technical yacht services chemical composition division.
* In Canada in the BottomKote line of bottom coatings we probably only get Interlux ACT and XXX brands. So, MMKZ I probably do NOT have BottomKote NT.
*Yes, we can paint Interlux Micron CSC over either BotomKote product.
* To re-coat: Wash the hull thoroughly getting EVERYTHING off. Let dry well. Lightly "scuff" the surface with 80 grit paper to re-coat ACT but for XXX take it ALL off, then clean thoroughly. Apply two coats of the bottom coat, as per instructions.
*Question asked: "When will I know it's time to re-coat?" Answer: "Two ways, you get excessive fouling and/or you can see areas where it has worn off - as in it looks thin."
* Question: "How long should it last?" Answer: "Depends - salt water=worse, very warm water = worse, high fouling=worse. In the cooler, fresh water like our St. Lawrence that is low to low-moderate fouling, three or four years would be reasonable. You may need the odd touch-up."
*Question: "So, I don't have to re-coat every year". Answer: "Not unless you are running aground on a lot of sand bars, LOL!!! We'd like to sell you a lot of paint but you shouldn't need it every year in your area."
So Mark and BMXZ .....I think we have it. I'm NOT going to let my marina re-coat my hull this Fall and IF they do next year it will be done according to the method suggested by the experts NOT the way they prefer to do it or have been doing it.
P.S. many bottom coatings have a special window of time from coating to launching so that the active anti-fouling ingredient does not dry-up.
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
@MT..... I am VERY HAPPY today! Just returned from our boat. Met with a bottom coatings specialist and looked at a number of products. He looked at my hull. He says I do not have Bottomkote XXX on my hull. He dislikes that coating as it is old technology. I dislike it as you can not re-coat it with any of the newer technology paints - even those from Interlux unless you sand ALL of it off right to the barrier coats. I was scared sh*tless that it was XXX. GOOD NEWS - He says my coating is a much better product and is an great condition. He said I could easily re-coat it with Micron CSC or any other top quality coating. He did say that no matter what re-coating product is going to being used - if I want to "do it right" - I need to sand the old coating. He says IHO all hulls should be sanded at least lightly before re-coating is done if you want to "do it right". He recommended #80 sand paper, to properly prepare ("rough-up") the surface, then clean the surface and follow the instructions of the new product. He also said he favors two final coats.