VC-17m Hull Bottom Paint

[beene]

Thanks Bob

She went in on Thursday, I will take pics when I get a chance. The water, with ballast full, was parallel and about 1.5 inches from the fouling paint line.

Just waiting for my days off this week to get out for some sailing time.

Next will be the install of my autopilot, which is being held up waiting for my 20" wheel.

Ciao

G

[puggsy]

I am impressed with that copper colour...In our state, copper of any sort is not allowed in anti-fouling paint, because the authorities feel the leeching could harm the marine environment...even though there is a product names COPPERCOTE. No copper in it but some other chemical. In fact i'm bringing SEAHORSE from Femantle harbour north up the coast to Hillarys Marina and putting her on the trailer for exactly this job. Tomorrow..Its now the start of our winter [ a few showers] and if we get any good days will launch and sail off Hillarys for a couple of months. I have been using a white anti-fouling and NOT been pleased with its performance. So I may go back to my old favourite, RED. Not so much for the colour, but for the effectiveness. With my previous 40ft. timber charter ketch, I used all three colours of the same product...blue, black and red. And the red came out tops every time...So it seems i might start looking like a flag...red, white and BLUE...the much faster blue...Puggsy

[Currie]

The copper color only lasts about a day in the water . Mine's already a beautiful dogsh*t brown. Oh well, I'll always have the pictures.

[Highlander]

Here we go "The Happy Painter"

http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0001-1.flv

I still think she'll sail faster with a bowsprit ! but that teflon sure is slippery

J

[Currie]

LOL! How did I ever do it without John's help! ROTFL!

[Highlander]

Currie

I see you like my dry sense of humor , my constructive criticism
but somebody has to do it, he did forget to mention that I did help him !!! as I told him its not art work & you gotta move along or else that paint is gonna set in the paint tray if ya dont Moveeeeeeeeeeee !!! fasterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

J

[Currie]

Very funny clip John - looks like you guys had fun. The results look great! I sure wish you could help me on this winter's project. It involves a lot of welding (will start a new thread).

[beene]

Pic of water line re stripe and paint stop....



G

[Terry]

Well, I'm done.

I chose to stop the paint at around 2" below the black stripe as that is where the water line was and I like the look of the black stripe by itself.G

I have to say I agree with that opinion, the stripe by itself adds aesthetic value. I too put masking tape below the blue boot stripe to add a second white line. I have the blue hull with blue boot stripe. I used a darker blue bottom paint in an attempt to match the blue hull, looks pretty good. The blue boot stripe with two white racing stripes either side really adds to the overall look and even with ballast in I do not sink below the bottom paint line.

[DaveB]

I use straight Hydrochloric acid to remove the yellow stain below the water line. I spray on wait for ten seconds and spray with water and it's gone, do a 3x5 ft. section at a time as you don't want to leave the acid on for more than 2-5 min. I have used On-Off and that did work only it took longer and costs a lot more.
I than polish the hull with Starbrite Polish and 2 weeks later another coat,it's good for at least a year before you need to polish the hull again.
I Trailer sail and often out 4-5 days in FL. Salt water.
David

(After some web research, I discovered that toilet bowl cleaner (in my case, The Works(tm)), did the job quickly and easily. I'm not sure I would advise the annual use of toilet bowl cleaner (a hydrochloric acid solution) but the one-time application left the hull shiny and new looking, with no obvious etching or damage. )

[Currie]

Thought I'd follow up on this thread after examining my bottom paint the other day....

Overall, the scum and growth was almost nil. I just did a light powerwashing when I pulled it from the water in October, but there was practically nothing there to speak of. I could see where the ablative paint had dissolved away a bit. There are a couple of small spots where it's completely rubbed off at the front edge of the hull. It looks like I'll be adding one coat-per-season. But considering how fast VC-17M goes on, I'm ok with that. Overall, it was a lot less work than the previous year, and a lot cleaner boat to sail. I'm pretty happy.

Happy holidays everyone!....

~Bob

[beene]

Good to hear Bob.

Same thing here.

Best looking hull I have seen on any of my boats when hauling out from a season in the lake.

Smooth and clean.

Very impressed with ease of application, cost, time....

Its all good.

G