Number of Bottom Paint Coats

[sailorboy1]

It’s been 2.5 years now since my boat has been out of the water and bottom painted, so it’s going to happen in the next month or so. I put on more paint (ablative) last time than I had been, but of course it’s been 2.5 years instead of 7 months like it had been in past.

Pretty much all the ablative paints recommend 2 coats plus an additional one at waterline and high wear areas. I’m currently more inclined to put more than that on, but the only thing for the max amount I’ve found is “15 mils”.

I’m wondering how many coats of ablative other cruisers are putting on. By other cruisers I mean those that aren’t planning a haul out for at least 2 years.

[Cruiser2B]

I just did mine, put 3 coats one black as base and 2 red coats....when it hits the black ...I know it's time....like you stated I had a bit of red left over so I just coated waterline and keel with additional coats. We'll see how long it lasts...hope for 2-2.5yrs

[a64pilot]

I Like two with a third on High wear areas, for me that is the rudder for some reason, the leading edge of the keel and the waterline and down about a foot.
I think the waterline and rudder are exposed to sunlight, cause I can’t imagine otherwise why the rudder seems to have more growth and take more cleaning and therefore wear away the paint faster otherwise.

It’s been a little over two years for me too, and I have wondered about your’s cause I remember a post some time ago from you about excessive growth.

I like alternating colors myself, last bottom job was black and red before that, and I have a lot of red showing in the high wear areas now myself.
I hope to haul in the islands somewhere myself next hurricane season, maybe Grenada?
That will be three years, and I’m overdue, but you have done a lot more traveling in the last year than I have too.

[Sailmonkey]

We haul every 3-5 years. I put 4 coats at the waterline 2 on the hull and 3-4 on the rudder

Ablative paint

[sailorboy1]

[QUOTE=a64pilot;2771501

It’s been a little over two years for me too, and I have wondered about your’s cause I remember a post some time ago from you about excessive growth.
.[/QUOTE]

It’s “funny” that 7 months ago I grew a 2” thick mat of soft growth, so much that it knocked almost 2 knots off boat speed. But since cleaning that I haven’t really had much more than thin mostly slime layer. I dont know if it’s because during the past 7 months I’ve gone up to the north cold water and back south and in/out of fresh water during it. Or maybe the newest paint is off and the old single season paint is still working.

[Seymore]

Two coats: First a signal coat of red, then a topcoat of blue, the sailboat being based on blue.

[ullar]

Last time we painted our boats bottom in NZ guys in the paint shop calculated the amount of paint according to our boats wetted surface (approximate, of course). When painting, that was about 2 1/2 layers. Started show some growth on waterline after 2 years of cruising. Ablative paint.

[sailorboy1]

237 views, only 5 poll votes :-(

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

237 views, only 5 poll votes :-(

There’s a poll?

Don’t see it on my pocket sized multifunction glass encased time suck box!!!

[ullar]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

237 views, only 5 poll votes :-(

Probably not boat owners?

[deltaten]

Voted "2+" , and I pull the boat every third year. Mostly wear at the w/l and typical edges. Semi-hard, as the fresh water of N. Chess doesn't get much growth. Brush/ scrape two or three times/season with soft ablative took more paint off than sailing.

[senormechanico]

Not everyone uses ablative.

[rbk]

Voted 3 but only cause I thin the first two coat, fist approx 15% the 5 then just paint. Really could be done in 2 but I find thinning the first two gives a much smoother finish than 2 heavy coats without effecting performance (I am very far north however so results may vary)

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

There’s a poll?

Don’t see it on my pocket sized multifunction glass encased time suck box!!!

I finally voted from the office based plastic encased magnesium framed time sucker.

[powsmias]

just voted.. i put 3 on and got some amusing feedback now and then from marina guys. they thought way overkill.. got a good deal on the paint and layed it on. after reading this thread i'm ok with it. hope to get 2-2.5 out of it.