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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

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

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.

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

"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.

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

I see u painted the bottom Blue, to make it a little faster


Allan

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

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...

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

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!

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

Love MACs wrote:I see u painted the bottom Blue, to make it a little faster


Allan

Yes, I did go blue for the extra speed and it was a color match for all the sunbrella stuff I have topside.

Paul