MacGregorSailors.com

Hello
to calculate: How much m2 or squarefoot do our boats have? I want to aply an antifouling

Thanks - kurz

I can't find the invoice from my last bottom paint, but from email, this is what they used:

Paint procedure as follows:
1) 1 coat Proline 3061 epoxy primer.
2) 1 coat Proline 3062 epoxy primer.
3) 2 coats Interlux Ultra with biolux BLACK antifouling paint.

It was apparently 2 gallons per coat from email context, but do verify that number.

That sounds like a lot. When I used to bottom paint my Mac with anti-fouling (haven't needed to in many years now), I recall it taking just under a gallon for one coat.

Quoted from this page, half way down...

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =+interlux

I used the following on my boat as suggested by my dealer with excellent results so far. I used 1 gallon + 1 quart of Interlux Interprotect 2000E for the barrier coat. Then 2 quarts Micron CSC black, then 2 quarts CSC blue for the antifoul coating. I don’t believe (I could be wrong) that Interprotect can be used alone without something on top of it. Applying these above amounts will give you the recommended coating thickness on a Mac M, which, because it’s epoxy, is more important than the actual number of coats applied. It’s easy to accurately confirm the mil thickness by using a micrometer on the masking tape. Or a vernier caliper if you’re good with it. I think I did it in 7 or 8 coats.

I found you will need about 1 - 1/2 litres per coat for this product to get the needed mil thickness on a Mac M hull. Maybe slightly more on a new, sanded surface, a bit less on subsequent coats.

-Brian.

mastreb wrote:It was apparently 2 gallons per coat from email context, but do verify that number.

Allow me to clarify: I was billed for two gallons per coat. I have no idea how much it actually took

what does a bottom coat cost?

do you need it in fresh water?


thanks.

sirlandsalot wrote:what does a bottom coat cost?

Materials, a lot. Probably $225/gallon. Labor, free if you do it yourself, a lot if a yard does it.
It's a difficult job and a probably worth having a yard do it IF they know what they are doing. I've seen some that are lazy or just incompetent simply paint over the fiberglass without prepping the surface. The bottom coat then flakes off.

do you need it in fresh water?

Depends on how long your boat is left in the water and water temps.
Fresh won't have barnacles and sea growth, but it does have slime buildup. Warmer waters tend to grow stuff faster.
A barrier coat is suggested if you are leaving it in for prolonged (months) at a time.
Power washing and a brush generally gets slime off from fresh water. Not so much for salt water marine growth.

--Russ

I paint bottom on my each spring using the Interlux Bottomkote. The quantity needed is less then 2 quarts. The boat stays at slip all summer.

I had a local Marina do it for $17 a foot plus paint.

They did all the prep, and applied to the paint to the bottom, removed the swing keel (And replaced the cord for me since it was frayed) painted it and the "pocket" and the engine bracket.

Came out to about $750. Supposedly good for 2-3 years.

SENCMac25 wrote:I had a local Marina do it for $17 a foot plus paint.

They did all the prep, and applied to the paint to the bottom, removed the swing keel (And replaced the cord for me since it was frayed) painted it and the "pocket" and the engine bracket.

Came out to about $750. Supposedly good for 2-3 years.

It's a nasty job and difficult to get where the boat sits on the trailer. Well worth it, in my opinion for that price.
The key is the prep. If the boat is not prepped properly, it's a total waste of money because redoing it properly can cost even more.

Now some will argue that an epoxy coat should be applied before the bottom paint. That is probably ideal. However, on my Hunter 34, we never did that. But knowing how thin the gelcoat is on the Mac, I would recommend a barrier coat if doing it for the first time.

--Russ

Russ - Yeah prep is key (no pun intended). As is DRIFT - doing it right the first time.

I would not say that the Mac hull is any more or less susceptible to blisters than other makes of boats. I have seen no evidence of any higher incidence among owners on this forum, nor in any literature. Any boat manufactured from polyester resin will be more vulnerable than any boat manufactured from alternate material, such as vinylester resin, regardless of the factory of origin. There are other factors that have more influence over whether blistering happens or not.

I would hazard a guess that, because of the initial, potentially lower price of entry for a Mac, and that a barrier coat represents a higher percentage of the overall cost of ownership, it would be more likely to be passed over than on a higher-priced boat. At our local marinas the trend is clear, barrier and anti-foul coats are much less likely to be present on the less costly boats that are not trailered. The larger, more expensive boats have owners that are more motivated to protect their larger investment.

Answers to some of the questions being asked here are contained in the thread I referenced in the link in my last post above.

IMHO look to cover ( our boats) 180=200 sq ft.. needs to be between 4 and 6 mil. Coverage varies a LOT By Manufacturer!! Some require no less than 2 and often 3 coats for the 4 to 6 mil coverage . A few do 4 mils per coat.. cost can be anywhere from ( USA) $180-$350 a gallon..
PREP.... DRIFT... $$$$$$ If You are paying for the labor that can be huge difference.. It shouldnt be , but it will be ... most guys at most marina's doing the bottom cleaning and bottom painting for boats Are NOT.... The Winners of Some Fabulous, Out of This World, Custom Paint Competition !!
When you get yours done and see how nice a job you can do, on your very first try, unless you are a total clutz! You will no doubt question paying a Marina $80 an hour, who pays their help $15=$20 an hour to clean and paint the BOTTOM of your boat.
That said I am considering this company for Boat Products...
http://www.ipaint.us/marinespc99.html

I grew a ton of barnacles and growth on my original gelcoat that I could not get off myself, and had begun to damage the gel-coat when I tried. As I have more money than patience, skill, good sense, or gumption, I tossed the whole problem over the fence to a boatyard. They cleaned the hull, sanded fair, applied two coats of epoxy, and two coats of ablative antifouling for a total charge of $3000. Took a week. I'm guessing that represents the maximum cost.

One more thing to keep in mind this tim of year (it messed with my plans) you shouldn't paint when its too cold (<50°f)

Well Mastreb I find myself in a similar situation as you did .. except I don't want to spend the money and I have , more time than money . However on the positive side for me in spite of lacking big funds , I do possess the required tools and skill sets... What I now have for sure is a MESS ..
I launched our 24' W/A Striker in Nov. No Bottom Paint!! Family was here and we wanted at least 1 boat in the water . Wellll She is stillllll sitting at my seawall and needs to come out this week and have her bottom cleaned really really GOOD! YES after just 3 MONTHS in salt/brackish water she is becoming a real mess!OK OK I guess I too have lacked in the Gumption department too

mastreb wrote:I grew a ton of barnacles and growth on my original gelcoat that I could not get off myself, and had begun to damage the gel-coat when I tried. As I have more money than patience, skill, good sense, or gumption, I tossed the whole problem over the fence to a boatyard. They cleaned the hull, sanded fair, applied two coats of epoxy, and two coats of ablative antifouling for a total charge of $3000. Took a week. I'm guessing that represents the maximum cost.