[C320-list] Bottom Job

[Fred LEcuyer]

We owed a 1987 Catalina 30 prior to First Light. It was about 13 yrs old when we purchased it and had about 13 years worth of bottom paint in various spots and none in others. After two seasons of seeing more of it flake off in larger clumps, I decided to take it all off. I first used a chemical stripper which just didn't work out..... way too much paint had accumulated. I, therefore, donned my Tyvek suit, safety goggles and respirator and began the process of sanding it down. It wasn't long before I figured out it was pretty hard to figure out where the gelcoat would show up.  When I did it, the temperature was in the 90's (F) and my ability to crouch down, look up and sand just the right amount while not passing out from heat prostration, was severely taxed.  After the bottom was finally scraped, sanded and feathered, I put on Interlux 2000 as a barrier coat and two coats of bottom paint.... including a signal coat.  It was like a new boat to sail and I never again added paint where it didn't need it.  One good outcome from this exhausting process was that I found the skeg really needed to be re-secured... the crack around it had been hidden by so much paint.
 
First Light, our used 320, came with a pretty clean bottom that I merely washed and scrubbed and patch painted where needed before putting it in last year. It came out of the water like new.
 
So, I'll add to what you've already heard about not putting on too much paint. If you've already got way too much, the soda blasting job sounds like a great price..... and well worth it to avoid a truly exhausting job.
 
Fred
First Light #920

 
> From: wupdike at hotmail.com
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:43:16 -0500
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bottom Job
> 
> I second Johnm's point. After we bought # 63 in 2004, we removed most of the
> old paint and had the yard do the waterline (there the paint is super hard,)
> and sand the whole bottom. Then, I applied a "signal" coat of black and a
> top coat of blue ablative paint. I use the WM CPP about $90 on sale in the
> spring. 
> After that, I painted the whole bottom for a couple of years. Then, it
> occurred to me that I wasn't ever seeing the signal coat, so why repaint the
> whole thing. Now, I just repaint where it appears to be getting thin, the
> usual areas are the bow fwd of the keel, leading edges of the keel and
> rudder. 
> Each year when hauled and power washed, there are a number of places where
> the paint just flakes off down to the barrier coat. I simply chip away to a
> hard edge, sand to feather edges, wash with 202, reapply the black signal
> coat, and top coat with blue. I also noticed that the previous year repairs
> are holding firm. Why continue to pile on more paint if the old is still
> there.
> As to the flaking areas, I contacted Catalina who told me that in '93-'94
> they were using a two part barrier coat but couldn't be sure on any specific
> boat. The manufacturer sold that product line years ago. So, this year, I
> may use a Pettit primer coat on the barrier coat.
> Otherwise, I keep telling myself that it's just a boat, we don't race, and
> I'd rather be sailing than sanding.
> 
> Warren Updike
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: JJ Morrison [mailto:sail-ability at sympatico.ca] 
> Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 10:29 AM
> To: Catalina List
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bottom Job
> 
> 
> >From my point of view most of us put far too much anti fouling paint on the
> boat bottoms! As long as there is at least one coat on the bottom the
> biocide in the paint will work. I've seen folks who put a coat on every
> spring which is just a waste and you wind up with an eighth(I've seen more)
> of an inch of paint flaking off. 
> In places where I can see through the paint to the boat bottom I give a
> very light sanding and paint ( I use Micron CSC which is ablative and
> designed to wear away) that patch, doesn't look so good on the hard but once
> in the water...
> This is for cruising boats, racers like to have that silk smooth bottom
> which is another story.
> Cheers
> JohnM
> #574
> 
> 
> 
> > From: kswanson123 at comcast.net
> > Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:00:21 -0800
> > To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bottom Job
> > 
> > Bottom job is what you are doing every year. 
> > 
> > I wouldn't change a thing other than maybe apply really good bottom paint
> and only haul the boat every other year or so.
> > 
> > 
> > On Feb 15, 2011, at 7:33 PM, Tim wrote:
> > 
> > > Ok, I am sure some of you will have some fun with this so go for it but
> what I 
> > > need to understand is the following. I have heard the term "getting a
> bottom 
> > > job" done on my boat. But I am not certain what this means. Every
> season, I have 
> > > my boat hauled, power washed, sanded and painted. Now the sanding is not
> to 
> > > remove all paint just to even things out a bit. Last few seasons, I have
> done a 
> > > bit extra sanding on my own. There does appear to be a few coats of
> paint built 
> > > up on the bottom. Like the rest of us every little bit of extra speed is
> 
> > > wonderful. So.....is there something more I should do every few years,
> should I 
> > > strip the bottom and only have one coat of paint. What is common
> practice here 
> > > without depleting funds for rum and other necessities.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > David Swanson
> > kswanson123 at comcast.net
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
>