Skyway Yacht Works - Boating Tips

Bottom Painting Tips

If you are planning on painting your bottom this year, there are a couple things to keep in mind.

First, if you want to keep the bottom of the boat relatively smooth, you really should put an 80-100 grit scratch in the existing paint.  This will help the new paint adhere to the old stuff and, in the process, you will likely knock off any loose paint that needs to go.

Second, when you wipe down the hull in preparation for paint, be sure to use a  Xylene based solvent.  It cleans better than acetone since it will not evaporate before the solvent has a chance to pull off any impurities and loose flakes.

Third, when using a copper based, volatile paint like VC-17 or Pettit SR-21, estimate how much paint you’ll need and pour that much into a mixing pale-keep it covered.  Do not use a paint pan liner- the paint will dissolve it- and only pour enough paint in the pan to dip the roller in 2 times; leave the rest in the paint can or mixing pale and cover it.  These paints are very volatile and will evaporate.
 
When using Pettit’s Hydrocoat, which is a water based ablative, hose down and wipe down the hull with water just prior to painting.  This will help the paint level itself out as it goes on.

Time-Savers

1. When using non-volatile paints – such as Interlux Fiberglass Bottomkote, or West Marine Bottom Shield or Pettit’s Unipoxy—line the roller pan with a kitchen size trash can liner by placing the roller pan -deep end first- into the garbage bag.  Then tape the open end of the bag across the shallow end of the pan.  Pour the appropriate amount of paint in the pan (lined with the garbage bag), paint the boat, empty any excess paint back into the paint can. Then, pull the bag inside out off the roller pan, throw in the roller cover and paint brushes, the masking tape from the paint job and tie up the bag then throw the whole thing in the trash.
2. Keep the dust down by wet sanding the bottom.  Use a drywall sanding pole and a hose to sand the bottom of the boat. Use an 80 or 100 grit screen on the sanding head to get your paint scratched and have your crew spray the hull while you are sanding the boat or better yet, vise versa.  Wait for the hull to dry (except in the case of Hydrocoat- see above), wipe down with Xylene and you’re ready to paint.

Skyway Yacht works rents a wet pole for the purpose of wet sanding when you have to go it alone.  Ask at the store.

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