Thinking of slipping Mac without bottom paint

[Chinook]

I'm not too concerned about lustrous gelcoat shine below the waterline stripe. I do wax what I can reach when the boat is on the trailer, and I generally apply a coat of anti fouling wax to the below water line hull before going out on extended salt water trips. It seems to slow growth, and I think it makes cleaning a bit easier. I have used plastic scrapers, and they work ok on softer growth. I favor using a metal scraper over abrasive pads, including the green buffing pads and steel wool, because I can better control a scraper. When you rub with a pad, you apply equal pressure and abrasion on areas with growth, as well as adjacent bare gelcoat areas. This tends to rub the gelcoat off where it's not "protected" with growth. Used with a shallow angle to the hull, the scraper works more like a plane, and I find it to be effective in cleaning, without being too harsh on the fiberglass finish.

[curtis from carlsbad]

Irafatsar: I may slip mine in Mission Bay as well if there are any slips left after you slip yours. Would you P.M. me or call me after you slip yours ? Mission Bay could work for me this summer. I like the idea of the weekly bottom cleaning assuming the slip is reasonably priced. Thanks -Curtis

[Irafatsar]

I will try to call the marina tomorrow.

[Theo]

Curtis,

I am quite a few beachings past the shiny pristine hull. If you stay on top of it, it is easy to get off and you will not damage the hull. Once or twice we let it go about four weeks or so and my buddy had to get out the steel brush. It did leave marks.

I highly recommend slipping your boat for a month or so. You will be amazed how much more time you spend with it. I imagine the novelty of slipping the boat might wear off after a while but we really enjoy the heck out of ours when she is in the water. We also make it a priority to try to set aside the time to play with the Mac as well. Then we don't feel so bad when she sits in the driveway for months at a time.

Think - Friday night BBQ at the docks - Sleepover on the boat - Saturday morning fishing expeditions - Rinse and Repeat.

[curtis from carlsbad]

sounds good

[curtis from carlsbad]

Thanks Irafatsar

[Terry]

To Theo and Chinook: Does the steel wool and putty knife dull the shiny gelcoat? I would be afraid to take metal to the gelcoat. Thanks so far for the terrific responses guys- This will help me formulate a game plan. I think my biggest worry is the speed loss with the bottom paint and the inability to go back to gelcoat once I do it. Also I am waivering on the slip idea because I want to be able to sail 3 primary locations depending on my fancy for that Sunday : Mission Bay, Oceanside or trailer up to L.A. harbor and set off for Catalina. So I am waivering on the idea of slipping so far south of my big three.( Also the cost).

My big worry would also be the abraisiveness of steel wool and abraisive pads or sharp metal putty knives. But as Chinook mentioned he uses an anti-fouling wax, not sure there is such a thing but Aurora Marine claims their product VS721 Bottom Wax does have anti-fouling properties. This is the product I used for several years and it makes the bottom very slick and slippery, I used 3-4 coats of it each time so I would want to be very careful about scrubbing it off with steel wool or an abraisive pad while in the water. Actually the wax is so slippery slick that the marine growth does just wipe off if you stay on top of it and do it weekly. A long handled brush made with PVC tubing works quite well, I have one and used it a few times, you just want to use a soft brush and wipe the slime and growth off, not the wax. Even in our cold PNW waters the growth happened fast, especially during the long days we get up here in June/July.

I can understand your concern about going back to gelcoat after painting (that was my worry) but it won't take you too many seasons to give up on that idea and just do the paint job. The VS721 also protects from Osmossis which was another reason I used it and I never did get blisters. You can order this wax online and they will send it to you, order extra, over above $100.00 and it is free shipping, you will use it all eventually. I have to admit that I did take pride in that ultra shiny slick hull I had all those years (and I really believe it gave me a couple extra knots of speed) but it was also a lot of work and in hind sight I should have painted sooner. Anyway you sound like you want to learn the hard way as I did so go knock yourself out and have a nice shiny white hull.

[Russ]

I used Aurora VS721 Bottom Wax last year with good success (fresh water). I just can't bring myself to paint that nice white shiny bottom. I also like to believe it's faster.

The previous year I did not use it and the gunk was like paint to get off. I had to scrub with plastic scrub pads. With the Aurora wax, most came off with a power washer. I wouldn't use anything more than the scrub brushes and the bottom should hold up to it.

So I'm doing the wax again this year.


--Russ

[c130king]

Just to add a little bit to the conversation...very good stuff already posted by the way.

I put my boat in the water for about 8 weeks back in 2007 in Norfolk, VA. I thought I had "bottom paint"...turned out what I had and still have is 4 coats of a hard epoxy barrier coat but no anti-fouling paint...didn't really know the difference at the time but called the previous owner afterwards and he explained the situation to me.

Anyway, after 8 weeks I had quite a growth of slimy young barnacles. Probably 1.5 to 2 inches thick. A friend and I scrapped off what we could using plastic putty knives that I happened to have handy. Got most of them off but there was still quite a bit of remnants left behind. I trailered the boat back to Jacksonville, FL looking a little "ugly"...didn't have time to get it cleaned in Norfolk. By the time I got back to Jacksonville...three days after pulling it out...the left-overs were dry and hard. But a good power washing system at my Dad's house took everything off.

I am guessing a good anti-fouling paint would have prevented most if not all of that.

Right after coming out of the water


About 2 hours later after scraping and putting the boat away


4 Days later after getting back to Jacksonville and power washing with home system (3000 psi I think)


Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König

[curtis from carlsbad]

Wow - very good responses so far! Thanks to all. Curtis

[David Mellon]

Another option is an inflatable float or hard plastic float. I have seen many styles including mechanical elevators. You float over the submerged unit and then pump air into it lifting your boat out of the water. Personally, the mess I get after a weekend at Catalina is more than I like to clean off. After two weeks in the warm water in San Diego your hull will be a nightmare.

[bscott]

Russ,

I'm on a cold water lake and have used VC-17 with great success--only crud at the water line which wipes off with a sponge. Practical Sailor claims the painted surface emulates shark skin and is FAST. It also holds up well when trailering and is ez to touch up with a small roller.

Bob

[pokerrick1]

I don't understand (Nuts)- Please explain.

You mean there is someone (besides me) who does not watch poker on TV???? In poker (holdem) the best possible hand is called "the nuts" - - - the next best possible hand is called the "second nuts". Those terms have become usable in everyday life ways ie., that restaraunt is "the nuts" (very good, best possible, etc.).

Rick Less

PS ie.2 - - -my Mac was named "THE NUTS"

[pokerrick1]

Curtis,
Think - Friday night BBQ at the docks - Sleepover on the boat - Saturday morning fishing expeditions - Rinse and Repeat.

or if slipped at Oceanside, think Friday night BBQ, poker at Oceans' 11 Casino and Card Room, sleep on the boat, get up Sat and sail all day - - - repeat Sat night BBQ & poker and Sunday sail. I know this works because I did it 5 days a week at MDR for 3 years. Tough life, but I volunteered anyway (one has to do his part)

Rick Less

[curtis from carlsbad]

Pokerrick: On the submarine my first year aboard I washed dishes 19 hours a day 7 days a week- most of the time when underwater. In port was 5 days a week 12 hours a day (A much lower percentage of my total days). It was called "cranking". I cranked for 365 days, possibly a record. As I stooped over for countless hours with my arms in water nearly to the armpit, I absorbed everything within my audible and visible range.(" All ya need ta get laid kid is a flattop and a bottla High Karate")! I watched a sailor lose somewhere in the neighborhood of 3000-6000 dollars to another sailor while playing poker . The poor SOB had to get a Navy emergency loan when we prematurely turned back to port to fix something for two weeks. He left his wife nearly broke . We had been prepaid our wages for three months before this trip and signed our wills as we did before each deployment. I silently vowed to myself during the several weeks I witnessed him gradually losing his shirt to the other sailor to never learn the game of poker nor to gamble. I have only gambled 10 dollars on nickel slots once while passing through Vegas one time(lasted 43 minutes).I can enjoy listening in on a card game if I'm at a social event while shooting the s@#t with someone though. Thats why I don't know jack about poker. Thanks for explaining. My wife however comma does play.