Worn out bottom paint-gctid341252

[Guest]

Other than looking shabby, are there any issues associated with not repainting extremely worn bottom paint (alblative) on a boat that is stored on a trailer (almost never in the salt for more than 2 days in a row)? I'll probably get after it in the next couple of years, but my boat bucks are directed to other more important stuff right now.

[Guest]

If you're sure it's ablative paint.... Ablative paint will continue to provide protection until the paint is gone.

Hard paints don't do that; they give up their biocide over time, but the paint carrier remains, so they can look great and not perform at all.

[Guest]

whiskywizard wrote:
If you're sure it's ablative paint.... Ablative paint will continue to provide protection until the paint is gone.

Hard paints don't do that; they give up their biocide over time, but the paint carrier remains, so they can look great and not perform at all.

Yeah, it's ablative for sure. I'm not so concerned with protection because it's never moored for long (the PO put the paint on). It's just that it looks like crap (junky looking). When I do get it repainted, I'll just be looking for something that will look good for a long time w/o concern for protection. I'm guessing a hard paint will be better when the time comes, but I haven't really looked into the options yet.

[Guest]

Sounds exactly like my bottom. Been running it for 10 years like that, no issues. I have moored in the salt for 2 - 3 days many times, and 5 or so week long stints. You should be all good to go.

[yachtman]

Other than looking bad it shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't leave it in salt water too long.

I have seen things growing on the bottom of my boat after only a week in salt so if its going to be longerI than that you would want to have good bottom paint on.

[Guest]

This thread made me think of a related question.

Our boat is trailer kept too. PO had bottom paint. We now are 100% freshwater - and if we ever do decide to hit the sound, it would only be for a weekend or so - but back on the trailer - no salt water mooring.

The paint is looking "bad" right up at the bow. The rest is okay, but you can clearly see where the rollers on the trailer have removed the bottom paint.

Is it worth the effort to have the paint removed, is it better to just leave it alone, or should I have the bottom redone to prevent any possible damage from the rollers?

[boatworkfl]

Remove the bottom paint carefully, then buff it, not sure if wax is OK, that may give you 1 or 2 mph, smooth is good.

[Guest]

boatworkfl wrote:
Remove the bottom paint carefully, then buff it, not sure if wax is OK, that may give you 1 or 2 mph, smooth is good.

Yeah, but it's kinda nice not having to worry about washing/waxing the painted bottom!

[yachtman]

Robert K wrote:
This thread made me think of a related question.

Our boat is trailer kept too. PO had bottom paint. We now are 100% freshwater - and if we ever do decide to hit the sound, it would only be for a weekend or so - but back on the trailer - no salt water mooring.

The paint is looking "bad" right up at the bow. The rest is okay, but you can clearly see where the rollers on the trailer have removed the bottom paint.

Is it worth the effort to have the paint removed, is it better to just leave it alone, or should I have the bottom redone to prevent any possible damage from the rollers?

The problem might be that who ever painted it before sanded the bottom to help the paint stick if so you might have alot of polishing to do and or repairing to get it shinny again. If its smooth then I would remove it you will get better performance. If not repaint.

[Guest]

leedub wrote:
Yeah, it's ablative for sure. I'm not so concerned with protection because it's never moored for long (the PO put the paint on). It's just that it looks like crap (junky looking). When I do get it repainted, I'll just be looking for something that will look good for a long time w/o concern for protection. I'm guessing a hard paint will be better when the time comes, but I haven't really looked into the options yet.

I don't think you can put a hard over an ablative without taking all of the ablative off first. Most of the major paint manufacturers have a guide that shows which paints can be put over others. Micron's info is pretty good.

[Guest]

Byter wrote:
I don't think you can put a hard over an ablative without taking all of the ablative off first. Most of the major paint manufacturers have a guide that shows which paints can be put over others. Micron's info is pretty good.

I wasn't aware of that - I'll check the Micron site.

[NeilW]

Pettit Ultima 40 SR, hard ablative paint that looks good and can be applied over other ablative paints after a good sanding. Works in fresh or salt water and can be stored out of the water unlike modified epoxy paints like Pettit Trindad.