[C320-list] Process for bottom painting while commissioning a newCatalina?

[warren updike]

Rod, our 1994, originally from your marina, is also from Winters in
Riverside. Three years ago, we manually scraped away all the loose paint and
had the yard finish the job with a sander. I believe the dealer applied a
barrier coat as the white gel coat didn't come through. I wiped it down with
Interlux 202 then applied Interlux ACT black, followed by blue. Up until
last year I had been using ACT annually and only retouching those areas
showing black paint.  

Even so, I continued to have patches of paint come off with the power wash
on haul-out. Annually, I scrape the loose paint back to a tight line and
immediately apply fresh paint. Don't let it sit in the weather because the
paint will continue to loosen along the edges.

I asked an old salt who works for the yard why the paint pulls off on the
roller. He said I was working it too much. He advised that I wet the roller
well, roll on one stroke down and one stroke back. Move on the next. It's
not like painting an inside wall at home. As you work the roller, the paint
thins out on the roller and the adhesion between the wet paint on the hull
and that left on the roller increases and pulls any loose paint off the
hull.  I now follow this approach and I don't have any paint come off in the
water, only during a power wash.  He said, "It's only a boat. Just apply the
paint and don't over-work it."

Warren & Pattie Updike
Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay



-----Original Message-----
From: Rod Boer [mailto:rod.boer1 at verizon.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 8:12 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Process for bottom painting while commissioning a
newCatalina?

Jon,

I have been using the same approach; however, the bottom paint is failing at
an increasing rate.  When I start rolling a coating of the more expensive
bottom paint and the previously layers just peel off on the roller it drives
me crazy because it is almost impossible to get it smooth.  It chips off
pretty easily; however, I injured my arm when fending off a piling in the
fall so I will probably use a stripper that won't damage the gel coat.

I agree with you that it was probably an issue with removing the mold
release or in my case the weather might have been unsettled during the
commissioning.  Thanks.

Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jon Vez
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 7:55 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Process for bottom painting while commissioning a
newCatalina?

Rod,

I had the same problem when mine was commissioned (in '99) and I believe it
is because of the dealer doing a shoddy job of removing the mold release.
I've since seen that mine wasn't the exception. Had I determined this after
the first season I would have taken it back to the dealer and had it redone.
Needless to say I've been paying the price ever since. As chunks of paint
come off I dewax and try to build up the area. My hope is over time I will
get good adhesion over time.
I looked into soda blasting but I didn't feel comfortable with the process.
Even though the medium is soft, it can still penetrate the vinylester. I had
the soda blaster try a test patch on my keel and it resulted in some pock
marks. The soda blaster ultimately wasn't comfortable doing the job either.
I may try a chemical stripper at some point, but this is a big job and I
think the little by little approach is the one I'm going to stick with for
now...

Regards,

Jon Vez
Solstice #582

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Rod Boer
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 7:16 PM
To: C320-List
Subject: [C320-list] Process for bottom painting while commissioning a new
Catalina?

All,

 

Is anyone familiar with the current practice of painting the bottom of
Catalina's when commissioning.  When Odyssey, which has a vinyl ester hull,
was commissioned in the summer of 1999, the process at the dealer I
purchased it from was to remove the mold release, apply a no-sand primer,
and then apply a coat of Interlux ACT.  My understanding was that this
process was recommended by Catalina at that time.  This spring I plan to
strip the bottom down to the gel coat and would like to know the current
procedure.  

 

The bottom paint has been a problem from the beginning but I think that it
might have been caused by the execution of the process but not necessarily
the process.  It would be helpful to compare the current process versus the
process when commissioned.  Thanks.

 

Rod Boer

Odyssey