hard bottom paint

[rhody98]

I am nearly done sanding the old bottom paint off. Considering using the Interlux 2000 as a barrier coat...no blistering but seems good prevention....and debating what to use for over coat. Boat is exclusively trailered.

Interested in recommendations and any "lessons learned".

[thehermit]

Hey Rhody,

I did the same. I used 2000e barrier coat and VC performance epoxy (white). My 20 is a trailer queen and its held up well but its only been a year or so.

[rhody98]

thanks hermit - the VC performance - do you recall how much paint you used? they recommend 3-4 coats. And how did you apply? I don't have a sprayer, wondering how well it'll come out with a roller.

[thehermit]

I believe I purchased 3 quarts (kits) but used a little over 2. I applied it (in my spray booth )with a small foam tru line roller and tipped or smoothed with a foam brush. The paint is thick and I did not thin it. You can wet sand it or buff it to create the slick teflon finish but I passed...its the bottom. Like I said it still looks good but it hasnt been long. Interlux said I could always hit with 80 grit and apply antifouling if need be. I went with this paint becasue the boat does spend time on a mooring when I need it to. Interlux told me 2 part poly paints would not do well if left in the water for a week. Then again they sell this paint too

[HatTrick]

How important is the barrier coat for a trailered boat? Is sanding the old paint down good enough or do you need to be down to the gelcoat?

[rhody98]

Not an expert but here was my thinking. The hard paint cant go over a soft bottom paint, so in my case I sanded down to the gelcoat immediately under the existing ablative. My thinking on applying the barrier coat 1st rather than just going with a hard bottom paint is mainly preventive....its easy to sand into the gelcoat further than you think so the barrier coat will protect what's left of the gelcoat if the boat is in the water for any time.

If the situation changes where it goes on a mooring, then as Hermit noted an ablative can be applied over the top after sanding to roughen. The barrier coat is already there under the hard coat to prevent the gelcoat from blistering. Extra time and money but seems prudent and potentially time-saving in long run.