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If you plan on to leave your boat in the water for more than a few
days at a time, you will need to have your bottom painted to keep
growth from forming and the hull from being stained by enzymes that
will not come off without harsh chemicals. Many colors are available
to match the boat.
There are basically two types of bottom paints:
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Ablatives
- These paints work like a bar of soap. They wear away slowly
shedding and growth with it. Benefits include being able to pull
the boat from the water without the paint "drying out," and
becoming ineffective. Also by applying multiple layers the paint
will last multiple seasons. The down side of ablative paints is
that the boat needs to be used on a regular basis to "polish" the
bottom and shed off the paint and keep the bottom clean.
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Hard Epoxies
- These paints have pores that release a biocide killing any
growth that begins to form. These paints are great for boats that
will be left in that water and not pulled out. The benefit of this
type of paint is that the paint works even if the boat is not
used. The drawback is that if the boat is hauled for maintenance
or for the season the pores will dry up and the paint will need to
be applied again. This paint will also build up over several
seasons and need to be sanded or blasted down to prevent excess
weight.
Painting the boat for the first time will be more costly as the
bottom will have to be prepped, this includes removing any wax and
sanding the surface so the paint adheres and applying a primer. As
long as the previous paint is in good condition, new layers can be
applied over it. However a hard paint cannot be applied over an
ablative paint without first removing the old ablative.
There are many different paints on the market today, and when
choosing one the most important factor is the copper content, the
higher the copper content, the better it will work and usually the
more it will cost.
If you need assistance in transporting and finding a location to
haul and block your boat, we can help you with the arrangements.
Contact us if you have any
questions.
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