BOTTOM PAINT
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jeff everson
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:10 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: SAINT CLOUD
BOTTOM PAINT
I HAVE A 26M AND PLAN ON PUTTING IT IN A MARINA AND TAKEING IT OUT ONCE A MTH TO SCRUB THE BOTTOM IT WILL BE IN FRESH WATER...DO I REALLY NEED TO BOTTOM PAINT IT

- beene
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2546
- Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:31 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Ontario Canada, '07 26M, Merc 75 4s PEGASUS
Re: BOTTOM PAINT
STOP YELLING AT US!! LOL
You don't have to do anything. It is always up to you. No matter what your sitch.
I have had my M 3 seasons. Fresh water, just painted this year. Was starting to get blisters and was tired of all the scrubbing every fall.
It is your call. We have these great boats that are not that big, sit on a trailer, and easy to paint.
My advice, just do it and get it done. Protect your investment. Once done, it is real easy every year thereafter.
1 coat per year.
G
You don't have to do anything. It is always up to you. No matter what your sitch.
I have had my M 3 seasons. Fresh water, just painted this year. Was starting to get blisters and was tired of all the scrubbing every fall.
It is your call. We have these great boats that are not that big, sit on a trailer, and easy to paint.
My advice, just do it and get it done. Protect your investment. Once done, it is real easy every year thereafter.
1 coat per year.
G
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dxg68
- Chief Steward
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:44 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio, 2009 M, 60HP E-Tech
Re: BOTTOM PAINT
I keep mine at the marina in fresh water. Bottom paint will not protect from getting blisters. I put four coats of epoxy based primer first. Actually first I had to strip mold release wax because it was a brand new boat. Then I put two coats of bottom paint on top of primer. I believe it is necessary – staff will grow on unpainted bottom.
- MSN-Travelers
- Chief Steward
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:56 am
- Sailboat: Venture 25
- Location: SE Wisconsin ... "Witchcraft" ... `99 Beneteau Oceanis 352 w/ Yanmar 27
Re: BOTTOM PAINT
"Bottom paint" and "anti-fouling paint" are terms often used to describe the paint coating designed to repel marine growth. If all you are concerned with is the green slime that often grows on the hull in fresh water and you are going to haul the boat monthly to wash it off, then there is no need for this paint.jeff everson wrote:I HAVE A 26M AND PLAN ON PUTTING IT IN A MARINA AND TAKEING IT OUT ONCE A MTH TO SCRUB THE BOTTOM IT WILL BE IN FRESH WATER...DO I REALLY NEED TO BOTTOM PAINT IT![]()
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A number of us have experienced mini-blistering on our boats left in fresh water. Factory gelcoat/fiberglass quality control issues aside ... You might consider painting the hull, below the water line, with a two-part epoxy barrier coat. This will protect your investment for the long term.
It only took me three days to prep & put on four coats of barrier and two coats bottom paint. I used a local yard. It cost me $150 to have them lift the boat off the trailer, put it on blocks/jacks and then launch it for me when I was done.
The boot stripe masked off at the start
Finished and ready for launch
Into the water.
Paul
- puggsy
- Captain
- Posts: 571
- Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:30 am
- Sailboat: Venture 25
- Location: MACLESS but not quite BOATLESS in Perth Western Australia
Re: BOTTOM PAINT
Here's my recent effort... little [ 20ft] Bevvy is sold...and I got a bargain on 5 litres of Hempel navy blue for $165AU, as compared with $250 for 4 lites of International MICRON EXTRA white, which proved to be a poor performer...as you can see






- puggsy
- Captain
- Posts: 571
- Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:30 am
- Sailboat: Venture 25
- Location: MACLESS but not quite BOATLESS in Perth Western Australia
Re: BOTTOM PAINT
p.s. the number on the bow is my swing mooring number...I have her name ready in stick on vinyl but not done yet...
rego for West OZ has to be on the rear port quarter....
About the " bottom paint"...do you guys mean antifouling paint or just a coat of something else...the comment about blisters seems to refer to OSMOSIS, which is caused by the gelcoat breaking down and water geting into the fibreglass layup...paint will not cause this...and it takes a while to happen...and the only cure is to grind off the gelcoat and give the hull some monthgs to dry out...a longish process...
rego for West OZ has to be on the rear port quarter....
About the " bottom paint"...do you guys mean antifouling paint or just a coat of something else...the comment about blisters seems to refer to OSMOSIS, which is caused by the gelcoat breaking down and water geting into the fibreglass layup...paint will not cause this...and it takes a while to happen...and the only cure is to grind off the gelcoat and give the hull some monthgs to dry out...a longish process...
- Terry
- Admiral
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2004 2:35 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada. '03 26M - New Yamaha 70
Re: BOTTOM PAINT
It is a big ugly dirty lay on your back job! I know, I did it for six seasons and then this spring caved in and did the whole barrier, antifouling paint job. Now it will be easy from here on. Really, that monthly scrub is going to end up being your worst nightmare. I thought it would be OK because I am in the north and only have a short sailing season so I thought it would not be so bad, but it turned out to be worse than bad. Paint it and be done with!jeff everson wrote:I HAVE A 26M AND PLAN ON PUTTING IT IN A MARINA AND TAKEING IT OUT ONCE A MTH TO SCRUB THE BOTTOM IT WILL BE IN FRESH WATER...DO I REALLY NEED TO BOTTOM PAINT IT![]()
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jeff everson
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:10 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: SAINT CLOUD
Re: BOTTOM PAINT
THANKS FOR THE INFO. I RENTED THE SLIP FOR THREE MTHS WHICH WILL GIVE ME TIME TO FIND A GOOD PRICE ON THE PAINT AND SEE IF I LIKE IT AT THE MARINA... AT 45 A MTH I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY IT 
- MSN-Travelers
- Chief Steward
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:56 am
- Sailboat: Venture 25
- Location: SE Wisconsin ... "Witchcraft" ... `99 Beneteau Oceanis 352 w/ Yanmar 27
Re: BOTTOM PAINT
Yes, I did go blue for the extra speedLove MACs wrote:I see u painted the bottom Blue, to make it a little faster![]()
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Allan
Paul
