[sunny bouy]

What is the best paint for multiple seasons. Last year I used the USBOAT CPC and it needs to be painted again this season.

 

[hammer]

I like the VC products myself. I have used VC-17 on three boats and it has NEVER come off. Now, I did sand the gelcoat first with 320grit paper on an air dual action sander to get the glase off. Paint stuck great, and on the forth year I put more on only for more copper for anti-fouling. VC-17 and VC-18 are basically the same product except for the price. Good luck.

 

[PyrateJim]

How can you tell whats on there now? The hull was painted by the previous owner and it sat for a season and a half in the marina garage. It looks good, other than where there is no paints because it was sitting on two, 8' skids when they painted it, but I was told because it was sitting out of the water that long, I needed to repaint. I need to figure out what is on there now so I can prep it properly and then repaint, if I have to.

 

[hammer]

When I stripped my 37' offshore I used bottom paint remover and a plastic putty knife. You can't let it sit real long or it will soften the gelcoat. After sanding it smooth when that was done, the new paint gripped excellent to the matt finish. When you paint the bottom on blocks, you have to be there when they put it in, so when its hanging in the straps you can get the missed areas. Thats what I did. They might do it for you if you have everything ready for them.

 

[Downrod]

Another vote for VC-17 excellent product

 

[PyrateJim]

One of the wife's boating co-workers told us to stay away from the expensive CSC ablative paints as the first time he powered washed his hull, most of it came right off. He suggested with going witht he less expensive paint,brush the hullin the shallows once a month or so, and then just repaint every season.

I was wondering, is this a common thing, or might it have been from bad surface prep?

 

[Bigwake]

You can't use the vc-17, or VC off, shore over other paints. It will take them off along with the VC paints. Interlux has a great web site at www.interlux.com that talks about all of their paints. I have the VC off shore on my boat and it's probably the best I've used.
Bigwake

 

[ThreeCrabs]

Ditto to what Hammer said........we used it on our Searay and it's a awesome product.

 

[MsCin]

I understand it's highly suggested to sand off the previous bottom paint before applying new bottom paint...would there be a problem if this was not done and just did some touch up where the paint wore off?

Another question I have is what cleaning product is best to use to remove the green slime or whatever that stuff is at the bottom of the hull?

Last question...is it best to remove the shrink wrap just before the boat is put into the water or is it safe to take it off now?

First year for us putting this size of a boat in the water. Thanks!!!