Bottom Paint question

tjinca1 · Post by **tjinca1** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:41 pm

How long do you usually go between bottom paint? I have the bottom of my Mac 26X (2001) cleaned every month.

What harmful effects happen if you don't get it painted often enough?

Thanks.

tjinca1 · Post by **tjinca1** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:25 pm

Anybody? I know a lot of you are sailing experts, and I'm very new. If anyone knows, please post it. I'm sure some others are interested too. Thanks.

Divecoz · Post by **Divecoz** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:44 pm

Marine growth will make your boat slow to go and to maneuver. If your going down and cleaning your boat every month and she stays pretty much the same IMHO your fine heck maybe never paint again. If it ever gets ahead of you . . . oh boy there is about to become a Project that could be labeled the project from hull. Its about about Marine Growth taking a firm foot hold.

Oppss sorry . There are all kinds as well and some only last one year and some under ideal situation last 5 years. . .

bubba · Post by **bubba** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:12 am

We bought a slightly used 06

that had bottom paint. It had been in the water in saltwater in Pudget Sound for a little over a year it needed pressure washing and there were some shells on the motor bractet but didn't need more than simple washing after a year.

John Christian · Post by **John Christian** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:24 am

Just powered washed mine after 1 season and storage for the winter, still looks like new. Dealer told me I should get 5 years. That was over a white a hull, I've heard the adhesion may be a bit more tenuous on the faster blue hull.

tjinca1 · Post by **tjinca1** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:55 pm

I get the bottom cleaned every month, so I know I don't have algae, shells, etc. But if I don't get it painted is there harm that can be done by just having old paint, if I keep it cleaned? It's been probably 6 or 7 years since it was painted. Thanks.

tangentair · Post by **tangentair** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:51 am

You might want to do some searches, this is a regular discussion and people in your area have posted their results. But also:

I am not sure I fully understand your issue. Is your boat in the water (salt?) and once a month you pull it and clean the bottom? Or is it on a trailer and you wash the bottom once a month after a few uses in salt? The paint isn't the issue, the marine growth and any possible blistering is the thing. In my opinion only, if you are keeping it in salt full time, after sanding off the old paint and preparing the bottom according to instructions, I would put a really good epoxy paint on below the water line and then cover that with a reasonablely priced bottom paint that seems to work well for your area. In spite of the mfgs hype, some paints work better in cold water than others or so I have been told. If you are keeping it on a trailer, for the price of bottom paint, buy a pressure washer and use it on the bottom and trailer after each dip in the salt and then paint when needed for cosmetic reasons. The tough call is when you keep it on a trailer but plan to use it for a trip occassionally of 2 weeks or so. I wouldn't paint but then I have a teenage son to do the hard scrubbing, Frank up in San Fran posted one time that he saw significant growth after about two weeks, I believe. Maybe he will comment on it.

tjinca1 · Post by **tjinca1** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:22 pm

I'm sorry, I should have given more specifics. I keep it in a slip in salt water - I never take it out of the water. I pay someone to clean the bottom each month, so I know there is no growth. I'm sure after 6-7 years it could use new paint, but I'm wondering if I don't want to spend the money right now, will there be problems if I don't get new paint? I wouldn't think so, but I am a relative newbie so I'm not sure. Thanks for the help.

BKAFER1 · Post by **BKAFER1** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:46 pm

If theres stuff growing on the bottom , enough to the point that you need it cleaned, Then maybe its time for more paint.
I would buy a few quarts of bottom paint and put it on. Its not that hard!
And not much more expensive than paying someone to clean it.

LOUIS B HOLUB · Post by **LOUIS B HOLUB** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:49 pm

My "X" is slipped, and the bottom job was done by a dealer. It turned out to be a real mess, peeled off because of poor prep. It lasted nearly a year, and no marine growth ccurred however.
Ive redone it, and preped everything correctly this time. So far, no problems or marine growth.
Im planning to clean the boat bottom after a few months regularly. Ive also heard that pressure washing bottom jobs is a NO NO.

Ive discussed this with Marina boat neighbors locally when I had the peeling paint issues, and opinions are that bottom jobs done correctly should last 3-4 years.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:07 pm

I think it is not so much a matter of time, it is a matter of the current condition of your bottom. If you have no growth, and the paint still covers everything then I would say it is still good. If due to scraping each month, you now have bare spots where the fiberglass can be seen, then you should start thinking about getting it painted again.

I have my boat in the water 12 months of the year; it was painted by me in August 2005. Last August when I pulled the boat out, the paint was still good; this summer I expect I may have to paint it. It depends on the condition. I also have the bottom cleaned once a month by a diver.

Wind of Freedom · Post by **Wind of Freedom** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:20 am

Can anyone tell me how you would put on "bottom paint" on my Mac 26X? Has anyone put on bottom paint while it's on the trailer? ... would'nt the trailer get in the way ... you would miss the areas where the boat sits on the trailer supports! ... how would you paint these areas?

... I'm guessing you would have to bring it to a marina and put it on boat supports to get a decent bottom paint job done ... any info would be appreciated.

tangentair · Post by **tangentair** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:02 pm

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... ttom+paint

Been discussed before - here are several ways

bastonjock · Post by **bastonjock** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:23 pm

i have a 2001x,from new it has had the same paintjob on it and no marine growth,it was epoxied and antifouled by the dealer from new,if marine growth is absent then i dont see the need for repainting

BigNige · Post by **BigNige** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:52 pm

I'm just in the middle of a bottom paint job on my 26M and find that apart from behind the wheel arches of the new aluminium trailer, it affords quite good access. I'm going to float the boat backward about a foot to expose the areas under the supports that I missed on the first pass then hope to forget about it for 5 years.

Incidentally, I'm using Jotun's SP90 which comes in MacGregor Blue. Obviously they have been convinced of the speed advantages of this colour and I fully expect it to at least offset the usual drag experienced with inferior bottom paint jobs.

By the way! Does anybody paint the bottom of the daggerboard and inside the casing or does the frequent movement of the board keep this area clean?

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Bottom Paint question

Bottom Paint question

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