[C320-list] VC17 - how many cans?

[Bill Culbertson]

Hmmm.  I'm on Lake Erie and I've put on VC17 for 13 years (6 times). I always use 2.5 cans.  I use a roller from a pan and I don't dilute.  I put on one coat every other year.  I "prep" the surface with a wet brush to get loose stuff off and let it dry.  The key is to do it quickly.  You pour a very small amount (compared to if you were house painting or Alblative bottom painting) into the pan - maybe such that the liquid extends about 3" from the deepest part of the pan up toward the shallow end or about 1.5 to 2.0 roller widths.  I use a 7" roller (I've used the recommended 4" but I get better results with 7").  Do not use a cheap cover.  Get it all onto the roller quickly and evenly - 2 or 3 swipes. If the roller can't hold it all, then pour less next time.  Then get that load onto the boat quickly. Getting that rollerful onto the boat takes me maybe 7 seconds or so. I think (from memory) that it is about 1.5 - 2.0 sq ft or so.  Then
 repeat.  I stir a lot - nearly every time I pour. Don't let any of it sit in the pan for any time.  What goes into the pan stays in the pan for only as long as it takes to get it onto the roller.  For the whole bottom I think I tend to use about 3 covers.

One other trick I started doing recently as my back started complaining more the last few years :).  I used to do the entire bottom front to back.  Seemed obvious.  But now-a-days I do the nose (which really has no flat bottom surface) and then only the flat bottom surface front to back.  Like painting a ceiling in a crawl space I tell my friends. I use knee pads and am on my knees most of the time unless it is too high.  I have a small plastic foot stool that I sit on when I can do so and still reach.  The flat bottom part is the most uncomfortable for me.  After doing the entire flat bottom part then I pull out the stool and do the keel which is quite comfortable.  Then I do the rudder mostly standing which is moderately comfortable except for the lower part which I sometimes do sitting.  Now comes the easy and comfortable part.  I go back to the nose and do the sides while standing.  I join the painted flat bottom part up to the boot stripe
 tape.  I'm standing upright the whole time and it is quite comfortable. Which is good because by that time my back is killing me from doing the earlier stuff.

When I used to do it all front to back, I found the area aft of the keel Hell-on-wheels. First, there is a LOT of flat bottom area back there and second, by then I'm pretty sore already with lots of boat left to paint.  I used to think I was halfway done when I'd gotten to the back of the keel.  Now I don't think so given the boat shape.  The new scheme although odd and non-intuitive has worked out really well for me and my back these last few times.

 -bill culbertson
  Harmony #859
  Western Lake Erie


________________________________
 From: "bkuether at comcast.net" <bkuether at comcast.net>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 6:47 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] VC17 - how many cans?
 

Depends on the temperature and how you apply.

If you are pouring the VC into a pan and rolling it on, I would say three.

If you are squirting the VC onto a roller, I once did my 320 with 2 but it 
was tight!

If you are using a pan and its hot out?  3.5 to 4.


-----Original Message----- 
From: Marek Fluder
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 10:35 PM
To: C320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] VC17 - how many cans?

Hello listers,

The highly anticipated time is coming after the long winter...
If you use VC17 on your bottom, how many cans it usually takes?

Kind regards,
Marek Fluder