Bottom maintenance advice

[Russ]

It’s been in the water for more than a year.

I missed that part and only read it was in a warehouse.

Then it will likely have some slime and the instructions above should work well. Be prepared when you haul it for whatever you find. Plastic scraper as described above might be good to have ready.

When I haul mine, the marina has a power washer available. I bring a pole with a brush and get most of the junk off when it's all still wet. Slime comes off best when it's still dripping wet. Marina doesn't seem to mind just dropping the slime in front of the marina on the ground. But that might not be welcome in other places.

I don't have paint on the bottom that I have to be careful of scraping off. However, the pole allows me to reach under the boat without getting up close and personal.

[Gotro]

Gotro said:

spent a summer repairing faring and new top side paint

What paint did you use for topside? My 1998 X is need of some topside paint in places. Especially the forward hatch.

I believe it was pittit from west marine

[Stickinthemud57]

Thanks. More dumb questions:

What's the ramp/parking lot etiquette for this type of scraping? Do I collect everything I scrape in trash bags, or just let nature deal with it?

I didn't want anyone to slip at the ramp, so I used my bucket and my foot to rinse everything back into the water. It would be considerate, I think, to at least move the gunk off the pavement and onto the nearest grassy area.

[Stickinthemud57]

Ditto - but. IF you have the opportunity, it's not a bad idea (best practice) to do the paint and antifoul of the hull - because you never know what the future holds. Plus you'll get/have a really good working knowledge of your hull.

I agree with Russ that a boat not kept in the water needs no bottom paint.

As far as cleaning goes, I have found that the easiest way is to use a 6" plastic scraper (putty/drywall knife) right after pulling the boat out of the water. Wet algae comes of very easy. I tried power washing, but that took off the bottom paint. The plastic scraper (followed by a wipe with a wet towel) did not.

While knowing your hull is definitely a good thing, I still maintain that painting the bottom of a boat that is not kept in the water is not the best thing. Doing it properly is a costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive process, and anti-fouling paint will likely need recoating every other year. Even with lots of sanding, it's unlikely you would end up with a finish that is as smooth and fast as the original gel-coated fiberglass surface. If I were not concerned with pitting of the hull, I would not have painted the bottom of my boat.

[OverEasy]

It depends on what you are wanting to do… as others have previously mentioned.
Fresh water doesn’t really need anti fouling but saltwater use, especially in a tidal estuary marina for more than couple of weeks, antifoul can be of benefit.

As we discovered, old anti fouls is relatively useless in a tidal estuary marina.

If you power wash it you have the opportunity the strip off the old anti fouling paint and get to the hull.
Once at the hull surface it’s a great time to check for and fix osmotic blisters.

Any hull wiould benefit from a good epoxy painted bottom even in fresh waters.
It will smooth out the hull and cover any old staining or repairs.
If you do paint it’s best to use a premium epoxy paint bottom primer and top coat (like those from Alexseal and Total Boat) which will last a very long time in fresh water applications.

Have fun with you new vessel!

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Stickinthemud57]

Any hull wiould benefit from a good epoxy painted bottom even in fresh waters.
It will smooth out the hull and cover any old staining or repairs.

Not sure I would say any hull. Following the manufacturer's instructions for Interprotect (5 coats applied with a small, tight-napped roller), I was left with a surface considerably rougher than the almost mirror-smooth surface of the original gelcoat. I sanded diligently and was able to get it down to a level of smoothness that I felt would not seriously affect my boat speed.

I would agree that a hull with blistering, staining, or repairs would benefit.

In my particular situation (good sound gelcoat and pulling the boat out of the water for a few months every winter), I might have saved myself a considerable amount of effort and money and had a smoother (and possibly faster?) boat had I just done nothing. I don't necessarily regret it, as I have peace of mind that my hull will not get blistered and that the VC 17M will help prevent Zebra Mussels (my lake has them)and even more so if I decide to leave the boat in year-round.

[OverEasy]

Hi Stickinthemud57!

How have you been?
Hope your Summer Season is going well!

Sorry to hear about the rough surface!
When I’ve previously incurred a rough surface epoxy finish while using a roller I’ve done so when:
— Applying to a hot surface or in sunlight
— Attempted to cover too large an area at one time which resulted in my “over rolling” with a newly paint wetted roller on to paint that was already tacky
— Using anything other than a deli Ted fine mohair tight short nap small diameter roller.

Now when we had our bottom stripped (of the sea garden salad that grew on our ancient prior bottom paint) and redone last summer we had it done by a professional boat yard that specialized in this stuff. (Time, personal physical limitations, space and schedule constraints dictated this was a better route for us.) They said the Intermatic barrier layers they applied were done slightly rough to provide some “tooth” to grip the ablative we had put on. They said while Intermatic barrier coat can be applied smoothly the generally only spray to get that surface so there is concurrence with what you experienced.

When using a self leveling epoxy paint like Alexseal’s I’ve not had any issues using a roller.

Sorry you had to go through all that extra work but I’m sure you made a beautiful finish out of it!

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Stickinthemud57]

Thanks for the painting tips. As I tend to say sometimes regarding my actions, "Well, what's done is dumb!" I'm overall satisfied with the results, but as you allude to, it took a tad more effort than I would have preferred.

You made the mistake of asking how I have been. It's been a roller coaster, and a period I am currently referring to as my "Summer of Pain".

Things starting out well enough with doing well in my first races and scoring a great crew member, then I came down with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (autoimmune disorder that causes sometimes excruciating pain in arms, legs, and at times the whole body). It is being controlled by Prednisone, which comes with its own problems. Thus far serious side effects have not set in, and am doing fine at this time.

In with that was a "TURP", which is basically a man-plumbing roto rooter procedure. Possibly because of my attempting to return to sailing too soon, I had a series of setbacks over the next month that have kept me from working (home inspections), sailing, and gigging with my 80's cover band. These things are bad enough, but trade them for hospitalization, ER visits, and a three large diameter catheterizations, and it made for a very miserable month. At this time, the complications have resolved and I feel fine, but I am on tenterhooks from past setbacks, and am taking it as easy as possible while easing back in to work.

Cruising up to the big 65 in September, learning about Medicare, and keeping my sights set on the Fall Racing Series at my sailing club.

Aren't you glad you asked? How are things with you?

[OverEasy]

Hi StickInTheMud57!!!

Been there and sorta done that!
( For me it was making ballast stones)
Comes with the territory for men of a certain age…those that haven’t got issues yet will, those who don’t know it yet will, and few are those that don’t!

Bit of advice to all males over the age of 60… go make friends with a good Urologist now, not when there’s a problem or crisis!
(Wish somebody had given me that advice!!!)
Be proactive, not reactive.

Glad you are on the mend StickInTheMud57!!!
Not any fun I fully understand.

Post crisis something that seems to help is “Smart Water” which is vapor demineralized electrolyte balanced water at about 2 liters a day.
A daily glass Cranberry juice is also thing it seems.
And not sitting for extended periods of time…(the water and cranberry juice sees to that ).

Heal up, drink up, get up and get back to your Mac

Best Regards
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi StickInTheMud57

Got to thinking about this side tack as a PSA for anyone stumbling on this thread…

Just an FYI….
Had a UroLyft procedure done today.
I’m a wimp…it hurts like a %@#&%€¥£}{>§~¥! at the current time.
Procedure took about an hour…don’t know how it could be done without the Nitrous Oxide and local.
It still hurt!

While the literature says one can drive yer self home ah wouldn’t …. Not for love or money….especially if you don’t live within 20 feet of the surgical center

The optimistic marketing says ya kin go back to work in a day or two…I don’t believe it! Maybe in one or two weeks would be more likely.

Same with the Recovery … if what I’m going through now is the “slight burning sensation” as advertised then I’m pretty sure that the one, maybe two weeks is similarly skewed by a factor as well.
I’m very fortunate my Admiral is a Saint cause I make a lousy patient!

Time will tell…

I’ve been told the TURP procedure, while yer generally under a general anesthesia and don’t feel a thing during that procedure it can have similar post op recovery results to contend with.
Maybe you can share your experience with TURP as there’s bound to be a couple members facing this ‘Gee, I survived life this far and now gotta contend with this new thing’….

Probably TMI….Just wanted to share

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Stickinthemud57]

Looks like this thread has been revived in an unexpected fashion, so I thought I would share my technique for periodic bottom cleaning

After paying $180 to have someone scrub the algae off the bottom of my 26S, I have discovered I can do it myself using a 6" plastic putty knife, either in the water or on the trailer.

If in the water, be prepared to devote the better part of the afternoon to it or enlist a friend. A diving mask is essential. Fins might be helpful. SCUBA gear would make it almost fun. When I did it this way I anchored the boat in shallow water so I could stand on the bottom, so the face mask was all I really needed.

On the trailer, I have access to our yacht club's private ramp and do this on a weekday where I am less likely to be in some else's way. Being close to the water is handy for brush rinsing. Once out of the water I use the 6" putty knife at a steep angle, starting at the keel line and working my way back to the waterline, using long strokes. After completing a section, I wipe off any residue with a soft car washing brush on a 4' handle. Depending on how fast you work, you may need to wet uncleaned areas before the algae starts to dry and harden up. The car washing brush is handy for this as well. Wear your work clothes, as you will be on your back under the boat on a wet, algae-besotted ramp. If you are not putting the boat back in the water, it doesn't hurt to back it in to give it a final rinse before you head out.

This took only 30 minutes the last time I did it. Of course, I'm pretty sure this won't work against barnacles, and advise against using anything other than a plastic implement.

[pitchpolehobie]

Hi StickInTheMud57

Got to thinking about this side tack as a PSA for anyone stumbling on this thread…

Just an FYI….
Had a UroLyft procedure done today.
I’m a wimp…it hurts like a %@#&%€¥£}{>§~¥! at the current time.
Procedure took about an hour…don’t know how it could be done without the Nitrous Oxide and local.
It still hurt!

While the literature says one can drive yer self home ah wouldn’t …. Not for love or money….especially if you don’t live within 20 feet of the surgical center

The optimistic marketing says ya kin go back to work in a day or two…I don’t believe it! Maybe in one or two weeks would be more likely.

Same with the Recovery … if what I’m going through now is the “slight burning sensation” as advertised then I’m pretty sure that the one, maybe two weeks is similarly skewed by a factor as well.
I’m very fortunate my Admiral is a Saint cause I make a lousy patient!

Time will tell…

I’ve been told the TURP procedure, while yer generally under a general anesthesia and don’t feel a thing during that procedure it can have similar post op recovery results to contend with.
Maybe you can share your experience with TURP as there’s bound to be a couple members facing this ‘Gee, I survived life this far and now gotta contend with this new thing’….

Probably TMI….Just wanted to share

Best Regards
Over Easy

Heres to a speedy recovery and peeing off the bow again

[OverEasy]

Ahhhhh

[AmandaRuth]

Hello - since I'm new to the group, I thought I'd share my hack for bottom cleaning the hull--without paying to pull out the vessel or getting wet. Keep in mind that mollusks and growth isn't a major issue in the polluted waters where I sail.

I buy a spool of 6' wide-ish wedding tulle. Then I take 80-100' linear feet of it and tie the ends together to make one large loop.

Then I make small loops for hand-holders on each end, so the 6" fabric is doubled & parallel at that point. Then I reach over the bow of the boat with a hand on each side, and using the hand-holder loops and going around fenders and stanchions I basically floss the bottom of the boat from bow to stern.

When done, let the tulle dry out and reuse next time -- until it starts fraying. *make sure your center-board is up!

This is what I buy:

[Russ]

Brilliant!!!!

I can't wait to try this.

My boat has no anti-fouling paint and gets super slimy at the end of the season.
I've tried brushes on poles that only work for waterline.

I've tried tying a scrubber to a line and doing your back and forth method, but it just didn't work.

Tulle would be a constant scrubber. I remember my grandmother used to make kitchen pot scrubbers out of that stuff.

Excellent idea. So simple, yet effective. Thanks for sharing.