need for bottom paint?

[first lady 81]

I have owned a 1981 Hunter 30 since 1987, which has been in fresh water since 1981. I last had the bottom painted, with some type of Interlux, in March of 1997. The boat yard tech said at that time that blisters (nickel to quarter size) were not significant nor extensive and not worth spending the money to eliminate.

Since 1997 I have donned my scuba gear, grounded the boat and scrubbed (nylon bristle brush) the hull clean 3 to 4 times a year. Scum usually off easily except in spring after sitting untouched for 3-4 months. Sometimes some paint comes off, but the hull remains blue. Additional small blisters have appeared over the years but I would not consider extensive.

Is there a NEED for bottom paint?

[Sailmonkey]

Bottom paint prevents fouling, not blisters.

If when you scrub, blue paint comes off, that means that it's sloughing to allow a non fouled surface to be exposed. Without the sloughing you're going to need to scrub a lot harder or paint with an extremely hard slippery paint, and still scrub.

[Stu Jackson]

Are you really saying you haven't put new bottom paint on in 20 years?!?

[first lady 81]

correct. no bottom paint in 20 years

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by first lady 81

correct. no bottom paint in 20 years

How many months a year does your boat spend in the water?

[messias]

And where?

[Rainh2o2]

I have wondered this myself. I have not painted mine in 3yr. Last year after pulling it I noticed a lot of the old interlux peeling off exposing the original gell coat bottom. I have a swing keel so I do think I need to paint that to keep the rust under control, but like you, I like to beach it and while the wife and kids are off on the beach I take about 30 mins and scrub the bottom. The crud always comes off easy. I am also in freshwater and only in the water for about 6 months out of the year in the Great Lakes. I see small ski boats abs pontoon boats that sit in the water for the same amount of time and they never seem to suffer from much growth.

[Cadence]

It sounds like a trailer sailor? I would hardly think blisters that size should be ignored either way. They are allowing wicking into the laminate.
If you want to go cheap at least fill them with Bondo. A sorry fix but beats the hell out of nothing.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by first lady 81

Is there a NEED for bottom paint?

If fouling is not an issue without it, then...

[Dave22q]

I'm with those who say paint has only one function- reduce marine growth. If regular scrubbing works, bottom paint is a waste of time and money.

[kclancy]

Interesting thread. I have been wondering about this myself. I just rubbed and waxed my sides and now the bottom looks really bad - go figure. Just cosmetically. The paint is old and faded.

I have a little Catalina 22 on a trailer. It is in the water for 2-3 days at most at a time. It's just a weekender. It sounds like I can just forget about repainting the bottom. I don't need to protect against marine growth.

Do you think that there is gelcoat under my bottom paint? I am thinking about removing the faded paint and restoring the gelcoat underneath (if feasible) and adding a stripe. Bang - new looking boat. Is this possible?

Kevin

[CaptsWife]

Originally Posted by kclancy

Do you think that there is gelcoat under my bottom paint? I am thinking about removing the faded paint and restoring the gelcoat underneath (if feasible) and adding a stripe. Bang - new looking boat. Is this possible?

Kevin

I don't know much about boats, but if it's "bottom paint" and you're adding a "stripe", how would anyone see said stripe?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by kclancy

Interesting thread. I have been wondering about this myself. I just rubbed and waxed my sides and now the bottom looks really bad - go figure. Just cosmetically. The paint is old and faded.



I have a little Catalina 22 on a trailer. It is in the water for 2-3 days at most at a time. It's just a weekender. It sounds like I can just forget about repainting the bottom. I don't need to protect against marine growth.



Do you think that there is gelcoat under my bottom paint? I am thinking about removing the faded paint and restoring the gelcoat underneath (if feasible) and adding a stripe. Bang - new looking boat. Is this possible?



Kevin

Unless someone sanded it all off, there's gelcoat under the bottom paint.

Itll be quite a job though to sand off all of the paint and create a decent finish on the gel!!