Epoxy Barrier Coat & Bottom Paint

[Wursty]

I had the bottom soda blasted and repaired & faired the typical blisters and voids. Washed and then wiped down hull with Interlux 202. Applied the Interlux epoxy barrier coat and followed the Interlux 2000E directions. Have 4 coats rolled onto the bottom and planning for the final 5th coat of barrier. My concern is it clearly sez to apply the Interlux antifouling paint to the final coat of barrier using the "Thumb Print Text" in that you can imprint your thumb print without lifting off epoxy. Ok I get it. However some local yard experts are suggesting "better paint adhering results" by letting the epoxy completely dry then sand lightly with 80 grit then begin antifouling paint process. Any comments would be appreciated. Interlux tech sez follow the directions which I intend to do unless otherwise stated. I will try to add pics soon.

[CaptPatrick]

Wursty,

What the Interlux tech says... He knows his product better than some yard monkey.

[Gert van Leest]

the guy is right , you MUST aply the antifouling before the epoxypaint is dry !
Gert

[JimmyG]

I just did mine, Interlux 2000 3 1/2 gallons sprayed on with a pressure pot after 2 weeks of fairing , I believe you have up to 6 months to bottom coat without sanding I sprayed it on the next day

[JimmyG]

http://www.yachtpaint.com/LiteratureCen ... sa-eng.pdf

[Wursty]

Thank you guys for your comments. I'm gonna apply final coat of barrier tomorrow and paint using "Thumb Print" test. Should be a good day in the NE tomorrow for this application. Thanks for your comments.

[Tony Meola]

At the end of the day, once she gets too much bottom paint on her she will start to peel in spots. Did ours in 1986, when no one knew about this stuff, she is still going strong. Back then you did not do the thumb print test you let her dry after the 5th coat and painted it within x hours. Don't ask too long ago.

We started out using Petit Unipoxy on the bottom, later on we moved over to ablative. Our paint is not on too thickm but I have rough spots. Another guy I know with a 31, had the yard do his around 1996, they did the hot coat before she set up. He always used ablative and he lets her get pretty thin, I see he has some rough spots now.

I think if you keep her long enough, eventually you have to let it go or strip her again. But how many people keep bosts as long as we do to worry about it.

[Charlie]

I have done two bottom jobs. One on my 28B in the 1990's and another on my 35B a couple of years ago. In the 90's the process was a bit different. The drying times or next coat times were very narrow and very critical. When I went to do the 35B the windows were much easier to work with.
Apply the first coat of bottom paint before you are outside of the re coat window or your have to sand, and wipe the boat down. I am not for that.
By the way when you pick a color of bottom paint start with different color for the first coat.

I am running an experiment this year. I have used Micron for years. I painted my little Herreshoff Harbor Pilot with Hydrocoat. The little boat only goes 6 kts tops and the Hydrocoat worked perfectly.
This year I painted a section of the 35B with Hydrocoat. We see which one wins. If it is Hydrocoat the cost or bottom paint just went down big time.

[Wursty]

Finished with 5 coats rolled on epoxy barrier (alternating color from gray & white) and 2 coats antifouling paint. I applied the first coat of antifouling to the barrier as suggested using the Thumb Print test process and it worked very well. I was surprised how quickly the barrier "Thumb Printed". Much faster than anticipated 4 hour that I figured based upon Interlux instructions. My window was more like 2.5 - 3 hour for Thumb Print and then I applied paint. I'm very satisfied with the end result but I have to say it's a painful job and you need at least 2 guys in order to get 2 coats per day. It was a 2 week process from soda blasting to sanding to opening voids and blisters to filling and fairing to more sanding to applying barrier and painting. Will launch on Saturday and can't wait for the first Striper and the cold beers forthcoming. Finally, how do you post pics on the sandbox? Like to show the process.

[CaptPatrick]

See:

Posting images & links

[Wursty]

The hull after soda blasting with old barrier(gray), epoxy (yelloe) and gelcoat (white) showing along with blisters and voids.



Applying Watertight epoxy to fill and fair voids and blisters

[Tony Meola]

I am running an experiment this year. I have used Micron for years. I painted my little Herreshoff Harbor Pilot with Hydrocoat. The little boat only goes 6 kts tops and the Hydrocoat worked perfectly.
This year I painted a section of the 35B with Hydrocoat. We see which one wins. If it is Hydrocoat the cost or bottom paint just went down big time.

Charlie

If you use the boat a lot the standard Hydrocoat works fine. If she is going to sit, you need to buy the one with the biocide in her.

[Wursty]

She's on the way to the ramp to be launched Saturday morning. No issues launching and the Cummins came to life easily.