Chipped bottom paint

[ScottMc]

Greetings,

How would you fix the chipped paint. Also is there a way to clean the bottom paint? Just picked this 26x up.

Thanks

[Starscream]

How would you fix the chipped paint. Also is there a way to clean the bottom paint? Just picked this 26x up.

Welcome, and congratulations.

If that were my boat, I'd sand the entire bottom and remove all traces of that bottom coat, and then assess the damage to the hull to see if it needs fiberglass and gelcoat repair. If the scrapes and dings aren't too bad, as they were on my boat, I'd layer the whole bottom with interprotect 2000e epoxy barrier coat and then choose a new anti-fouling bottom coat suitable to the intended use of the boat.

I did mine like that a few years ago and although it was a lot of work, I'm quite happy that I did it. Several years later and it still looks great and I know that the hull is well protected.

viewtopic.php?t=27058&hilit=keel

[Starscream]

viewtopic.php?t=27626&hilit=interprotect

[NiceAft]

ScottMc,

First, welcome.

Second, I see you’re in Indiana. If you only sail in fresh water, you don’t need an anti fouling coat. My is nineteen years old, and only has a bottom coat. It has only been in salt water twice, and never more than a day each time. A bottom coat is all that is needed if you intend to only be in fresh water. If you will have a slip, you can get marine plant growth. I used Slimy Grimy to wash it away.

[Herschel]

Greetings,

How would you fix the chipped paint. Also is there a way to clean the bottom paint? Just picked this 26x up.

Thanks

I have had my '98 X bottom painted professionally three times in the 20 years I have owned it. Fortunately, I have used it almost exclusively in fresh water, but I do keep it in a full-service marina year-round in the water. The marina has a lift that allows for a good bottom inspection and prep/paint job. So, given my history take this as much as it is applicable for you. Pressure cleaning that bottom with a good pressure cleaner and inspecting it carefully at that point would be my first step. Then you can evaluate the level of work needed. Specifically, how much of a DIY project you think you can handle or want to undertake. Or look around for professional resources. Welcome aboard.

[macowneril2015]

I found out my bottom paint chipped due to "boat pox"/ hundreds of tiny blisters around the water line. Other posts here note that issue but mine have never gotten worse. I was planning on having the boat stripped down and a barrier coat applied that should hopefully resolve this blistering.