I Want to Keep my Bottom Clean-gctid370835

[Guest]

Gotcha!

Seriously, does anyone know of a product I can apply to the hull to keep away all the nasty crap from yukking it up? We are really anal about keeping it perfect, although it's a 2006, it looks brand new. We are toying with the idea of getting a slip this year,but the thought of all that crap on the bottom is a real turn off. If we could keep it clean, the marina is close enough to the house that we could pull it out when we want to hit the other local lakes, so it's really convenient. We could pull it and clean it up every so often, but I don't want to "stain" it.

We kept it on a lift for a couple of years, kept it in dry stack for a couple and kept it home the last couple of years in the garage and trailered wherever we wanted to go. We were considering slipping it close to the house on the Des Plaines/Illinois Rivers, but the very thought of staining the bottom puts a damper on that. She's waxed a couple times each season and shines better than the day we got it.

No way will we paint the bottom, but wondered if anyone has personal knowledge of a product that might help us out?

Thanks, all!

[Guest]

Too keep your bottom clean, paint it! No pun intended.For fresh water VC17 is great, especially annual 1 coat maintenance is a breeze. If your boat already has VC17 paint, just wash the bottom and roll on fresh coat. This paint dries fast and creates hard smooth surface. If your boat was never painted, I suggest have it done by a professional as it will involve dewaxing, stripping, and multiple coats of barrier paint to be applied first time around.If you going to keep your boat in a slip for more than few days, bottom paint is a must. In my area unprotected hull grows green slime "beard" and zebra mussels with in weeks in a slip. Don't ask me how I know that.

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/674241=26383-VC17_YBA.jpg[/img]

[Guest]

Shame on you Peggy! You should know by now, if you wanna keep your bottom clean, you gotta keep it outta the crap.

No magic product here. Bottom paint (ablative or anti fouling) is your solution.

Zyrex is a new product that is neither, just so slick nothing can stick to it.....speed actually cleans it. Not sure what colors they have. A Chain local just had his done....he went with black, so I doubt white is available. He has a 27' Chaparral.

There are some white ablative bottom paints....Petit Vivid White will look like....well, you didn't bottom paint it. ops

[Guest]

GrindKore wrote:
If your boat was never painted, I suggest have it done by a professional as it will involve dewaxing, stripping, and multiple coats of barrier paint to be applied first time around.

Why? VC17 is a great suggestion, but barrier paint isn't necessary. And professional help is a nice-to-have but not requred. VC17 is extremely easy to apply.

[Guest]

whiskywizard wrote:
Why? VC17 is a great suggestion, but barrier paint isn't necessary. And professional help is a nice-to-have but not requred. VC17 is extremely easy to apply.

To prepare virgin gel-coat it needs to be prepped thoroughly to ensure good adhesion. The instructions on the VC17 can do recommend multiple barrier coats for fist time applications. Subsequent seasonal re-coats are very easy, wash and paint. http://www.trisailing.com/do_it_yourself.htm

[Guest]

GrindKore wrote:
To prepare virgin gel-coat it needs to be prepped thoroughly to ensure good adhesion. The instructions on the VC17 can do recommend multiple barrier coats for fist time applications. Subsequent seasonal re-coats are very easy, wash and paint. http://www.trisailing.com/do_it_yourself.htm

I agree that subsequent coats are easy.

I'm not sure what basis your link has. Interlux, the maker of VC17, says this;

"BARE FIBERGLASS Begin by scrubbing well using soap and water and a stiff brush. Rinse with fresh water. Wipe with Fiberglass Solvent Wash 202. Sand with 320 grade (grit) paper. Wipe clean."

They do not call for barrier coats.

https://"http://www.yachtpaint.com/M...Y+20100608.pdf

[Guest]

If there were a way to keep a clean bottom without bottom paint, it would be a universal procedure known to everyone and practiced by everyone.

There's not and there ain't.

[Guest]

I've used Easy On Bottom Coat in the past and it works to the extent that it helps prevent growth and to get it to slough off under way, and it makes for easy cleaning of the hull in water or right after hauling out. The product is basically a thick wax product that you brush on the bottom. I used it on a boat that I trailered and also kept in a slip but did not want to bottom paint. Typically when in the slip, I would take the boat into shallow water maybe every 4-6 weeks and jump in with a soft brush and simply swish off the accululated growth.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=11151&partNumber=247777&langId=-1

[Guest]

captjmh wrote:
I've used Easy On Bottom Coat in the past and it works to the extent that it helps prevent growth and to get it to slough off under way, and it makes for easy cleaning of the hull in water or right after hauling out. The product is basically a thick wax product that you brush on the bottom. I used it on a boat that I trailered and also kept in a slip but did not want to bottom paint. Typically when in the slip, I would take the boat into shallow water maybe every 4-6 weeks and jump in with a soft brush and simply swish off the accululated growth.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...7777&langId=-1

Seems similar to Lanolin

http://www.maintenance.net.au/protective/antifouling/lg_marinewax/lg_marinewax.htm

[Guest]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We were out at the local marinas today and are pretty certain we will keep the boat at home and be free to go wherever we want.

We are so fortunate to have so many places within driving distance

[gazza25]

Hi I am in Australia and have sole rights to a product named hull guard. I have had one fitted to my 3055 for 4 years now and am only just anti fouling this year. My web site is hull guard and you will see my boat video. It does work and at a cost of $3500 it's a money saver and easy fit. Look at the web site and let me know.

Gary