Bottom paint question

[scalywag05]

My 03 2120 is kept wet slipped for the season. The original owner had the boat bottom painted and when I got the boat it only had about 100 hours on her. Now 3 seasons later the bottom paint is starting to flake off and in some spots i can see what seems to be shiny gel coat. Its as if the hull was never prepped before the paint was applied. Should this be stripped and barrier coated or just sanded and new paint applied. I appreciate your in-put thanks Cant wait for the spring stripper fishing!!

 

[TimC2520]

I fought the same problem for years. See photos.
Nothing worked for me except having it soda blasted and start over.
I tried everything, believe me.
If you can see "shiny" gel coat, it was never prepped right.

 

[DaleH]

Most boats will show that, even if somewhat prepped properly. I just do it a little at a time, i.e., when I see the "white pox" showing the gelcoat, I sand and solvent wash it well and then paint that spot with hard epoxy-based red colored bottom paint. Then I paintmy typical black colored soft-ablative on top.

Then, whenever I see red ... I know I my black topcoat anti-fouling was or is getting thin in that area. This seasonal "hit the white" spots makes it an easy to do job IMHO.

 

[Megabyte]

The last time I repainted my bottom I took all the paint off and two-toned it like Dale does.
My bottom layer is "Grady blue" and my top coat is black.

When I can start to see the blue showing through, I know that it is time for a new top-coat.

 

[scalywag05]

So a light sanding (with 80 grit?) and then a two tone system......so you can see as it wears off. Good idea. Dale, what kind is that epoxy paint exactly? You spot paint with it or you applied it to your entire bottom in one shot? thanks guys.

 

[SBH2OMan]

I have a similar question - we bought our Parker and pulled her out of a slip where she had lived for years (maybe since Day 1). She has been on a trailer since October. Now we plan to slip her for the summer and there are 4" "holes" in the bottom paint in various places, and plenty of places where you can literally flake the bottom paint off with your fingernails. The gel coat under these spots is definitely not shiny, but this is a 18 year old boat, after all...

Is it "good enough" for a few months to just peel off the lose stuff and brush/roll on new bottom paint? (the rest of the bottom paint looks "oxidized" but I don't know if that is normal). It looks like this has been done in the past, as I can see the differing thickness of paint in areas where big flakes came off and it was just repainted.

 

[rjjm]

I had the same problem last season with the addition of a few blisters. If you are going to strip the hull I would definitely recommend that you barrier coat the bottom. It is a bit of work but nothing that an average person could not handle. Good luck.

 

[DaleH]

Good idea. Dale, what kind is that epoxy paint exactly? You spot paint with it or you applied it to your entire bottom in one shot? thanks guys.

I use the cheapest I can buy hard epoxy-based anti-fouling paint to patch the bare spots. I ended up buying a gallon can somehow dropped @ West Marine and it opened. The can was salvagable, just coveed with paint, so they sold it for 50% off retail .

I just sand and paint the bare areas. The good news ... no properly prepped red area has ever lost it's paint - yippee!

FWIW, I pressure wash the hull in the Fall as soon as she is pulled and then again in the Spring as soon as the snow has melted and the temps start to warm. I feel the precussive effects of the pressure wash, along with the hull going through a few thermal cycles, helps loosen off the old paint.