bottom paint

[lobsta1]

My B33C has been in the water since May 2003. She'll be in until haulout next June. This past Sunday I dove under to put new zincs on for the winter. Noticed that in the hi-wear areas there was a little marine growth just starting. Brushed it off & could see faint traces of the old blue vinyl paint showing through under the remainder of the black paint I applied. Other than that, even the water line is clean. Needless to say, I am pleased with the paint performance in New England waters. Paint used was Pettit Ultima SR. This paint has worked the best for me out of any that I have used in the last 20 yrs. Just wanted to pass along my personal observation. Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

[Rick]

Al, I was using the same paint which I think was new 2 years ago....prior to that a similar grade ablative. That's good stuff !But I only have the boat in the water from early May to late Oct and the bottom was coming out so clean that I decided to experiment with cheaper paint. This past summer I used the West Marine CPP. It still wasn't cheap, but saved me $50 on the 1.25 gallons that I need to paint the entire bottom. Based on what I saw when the boat came out this fall, the performance is very similar. In fact, less barnies than I usually see and it cleaned up nice with the power wash. I usually buy a gallon in the Spring and just paint the water line and however much of it I can. I'm sticking with that plan and hope to have a similar report next year.

[BECCA ROSE]

Isn't West Marine paints made by Interlux? Just a different label! Bill Dunlop "Rebecca Rose" 33 Bertram FBC 1988

[Admin]

Rick, when do you paint, when the boat is hauled out and at the yard? If so, do they let you in to do that or what? It seems difficult to do your painting since presumably it has to be out of the water, which also presumably only boat yards can do. David Sumich Bertram33.com Forum Administrator

[Rick]

Dave, I paint just days before the boat is launched in the Spring. The boatyard I use allows owners to paint their own and do most all their own work(not all boatyards in this area do). Shrink-wrapping in the fall is about the thing they won't let us do. Guess they don't want a bunch of us captains running around with heat torches....probably not a bad idea. Only thing is, the Shrink-wrapping bill is getting up there. But I paint just before launch intentionally because I heard somewhere down the road that the paint will perform better. I can't be sure if that's true, but it aligns with my commissioning routine and seems to work for me. I paint everything I can, then when the travelift picks it up, they give you a few minutes to do touch up just before launch. The whole job takes about 3-4 hours, but it'll be the longest 4 hours of your life !