Time to sand and bottom paint
 

It's been 5 years since the last bottom paint, and the hull is starting to show under the paint from wear. I don't use an ablative paint, but rather a hi-copper paint anti-fouling. I still have 3/4 gallon of Petit Trinidad Black 75% cuprous oxide I bought 5 years ago. (I bought 3 gallons for $70 gal on clearance at West) I just throw it on the shaker every few months.

High amounts of cuprous oxide retain their anti-fouling properties even when you keep the boat on the trailer. They're not real smooth, though. For smooth, you need an ablative paint, and need to repaint every year or two.

What kind of paint do use on your hull?

Re: Time to sand and bottom paint
 

ablative paint - it wears away,constantly exposing a fresh surface - it retains it's protection well,if it's a multiseason ablative,like micron csc.it lasts,via "thickness",meaning,number of coats - in our area,it's 1 season percoat...i allways use ablative paint - due to the build up from single season paint...

Re: Time to sand and bottom paint
 

Just stumbled across this while shopping for more 545 primer. Anyone familiar with Revolution by Supermarine? Single part, lasts 40 years, makes your boat faster and more fuel efficient. Too good to be true?
Dave

Re: Time to sand and bottom paint
 

Dave,

I got a quart of Supermarine to try when I was trying to decide what to put on bottom of my boat, since most urethanes don't hold up under water. I had trouble getting it smooth with either foam brush or roller, or roll & tip. Had lots of trouble with bubbles, using either their thinner or mineral spirits. Maybe it was my technique, but I didn't have that problem with Signature. Didn't try spraying it so don't know it works with spraying. Carla also tried some of it in the bilge of their 21, but she had some trouble with adhesion. I believe she later found she could remove the dried paint with mineral spirits, or else it came off where rain water had collected in bilge, don't remember which. Put some samples in salt water canal for about 6 weeks and it held up ok, but with lots of marine growth in our barnacle capital of the world.

Did the same with Signature Finish, and that stuff was so slick that very little growth stuck to it, and what there was cleaned off easily. It levels real nice when applied with a foam brush. It also held up fine for 6 weeks underwater, so I ended up going with Signature and have been very pleased with it. Also like the fact that it's easily repairable, as minor nicks and scrapes on the bottom seem to be unavoidable if you use the boat much. Denny

Re: Time to sand and bottom paint
 

Thanks for the info, Denny. I was thinking it might be an inexpensive option for a trailered boat. Sounds like application isn't too user friendly, though.
Dave

Re: Time to sand and bottom paint
 

Yea Dave, the user-hostile aspects of it turned me off too. That paint also took a long time to cure . . . I could still dent it with a fingernail after a week! Seems to be a problem if you get it on too thick, as it I think exposure to oxygen helps it to cure. I think I used their rapid curing additive also, but can't remember for sure . . . alzheimer's must be setting in a little early! The very fact that they came up with that additive is a bit of a red flag for me! Denny