johnkot

Can someone answer a few questions about this stuff for bottom coating (below water line)

1. What's involved with prep for a 1986-vintage hull that has never been painted? Current gelcoat is mostly good but shows some cracking in places and this year when power washing some gelcoat chipped off. Boat is kept in fresh-but-slightly-brackish water.
2. Can you get good results without a sprayer? Using a brush or roller?

3. How well does it cover? Does it seal the hull well from water where gelcoat is compromised?

4. Does it need to be wet sanded after applying it? More so if not sprayed? I don't care about getting a few mph more but just protecting the hull.

5. How long does it have to dry between coats?

Thank you.....JK

FloridianSon

I sprayed mine would not have done it any outher way.Got good coverage did the bottom of my 27' and transom. I bought one gal.but it made two after mixing. I had some small spyder cracks that I had to deal with.On them I used West systems epoxey . At 80* induction time is 30 min. pot life is 5 hrs.recoat without sanding minimum is 5 hrs.recoat without sanding max is 24 hrs.dry to touch 2 hrs. hard dry{to sand}15 hrs. launch time 4 days.I did not sand mine.Thought it would be better to wait a couple of years then sand and it will look fresh again.If you order some the correct thinner is interlux spray thinner 2316N the west marine book is not correct on the thinner as I called Interlux myself.I sanded my bottom with 80 grit as per instructed.If you spray it you will need pressure pot or syphon cup tip size 55 thousands inch.This is good performance bottom paint but it will not shine like outher types of paint that you could get.When you put it on is has a semi gloss look to it but when you wet sand it you will lose that finish to a dull white but it makes it real easey to see where you have sanded.This paint is for below water line as most outhers that will look better when done are not true bottom paints and if you call the manufacture on all of them they will tell you so.If you like you can call me if you think you might go this route .James 352-262-0398

FloridianSon

eye

FloridianSon

eye2

FloridianSon

eye3

FloridianSon

Do you live anywhere close to me? In picture # 2 I had the shop make me 4 steel stands that you just drop in a 6x6 and you get an quick way to get your hull up almost 5 feet off the ground, makes it a lot better to work on.

FloridianSon

eye4