J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Bottom Painting - Looking for Pointers

We're doing a total redo on Rhapsody's bottom this spring. There are too many layers of West Marine epoxy bottom paint to count that forms a nice "shelf" when you run your hand down the waterline. Fortunately, there are no signs of blisters.

The plan is to strip to the gel coat using Peel Away Marine Stripper, Sand with 80 Grit and use Interlux Fiberwash 202, then apply a total 6 coats alternating Gray & White Interlux 2000E barrier coat. Once it cures, we'll apply 3 or 4 coats VC17 Offshore, light sand & burnish.

Now the questions:
1. Anyone used Peel Away before and have pointers for use? I figure we'll need about 10 gallons. Reading web postings this stuff looks pretty good when used above 60 degrees (I'm looking at my thermometer and its 8 degrees outside now!)

2. Spraying Interlux 2000E - I've got a Wagner airless sprayer and planned on using this to get a smooth barrier coat base. Has anybody sprayed this stuff before and have recommended thinning ratios for an airless sprayer? Looks like the "Thumb print test" Interlux recommends for recoating means I get this done in one day for all the layers, or must wait 2 weeks between coats.

3. How much time should elapse before spraying the 1st coat of VC17 Offshore so the barrier coat cure / vapors don't impact the VC17 Offshore?

4. VC17 Offshore recoating - can these be done consecutively when each layer is dry to the touch? It looks like this stuff will dry quickly. Again - anyone use an airless sprayer with this and have pointers?

Bill - Rhapsody #348

I used regular Home Depot Peel Away (2 big pails)to remove 10+ layers of paint on Fuzzy Wuzzy with very good result. For best result work on relatively small areas - I did each side in 3 sections and then the keel as one section all in about a weeks time. For clean up use plenty of water and green Scotch Pads.
Bengt - #452 "Fuzzy Wuzzy"

Bill

I am planning on going through the same process on Madcap (old Thor 358). I talked to the Interlux guy and he advised me to roll the Interprotect 2000E. He said I could save 1-2 gallons for 5-6 coats. Then I am planning on spraying the VC-17 2-3 coats. As far as for Spraying VC-17, make sure good clean tip or it splatters. Recommended thinning is 10% on VC, but I have cut it up to 30% and have not noticed a difference. Answers to the rest of your questions would be helpful to me as well.

John
Madcap
358

John,

Did the Interlux guy recommend brush tip after roll? I see recommendations elsewhere for the no-nap foam rollers. I've never used one of them and haven't checked these out yet, so need to look into it.

Bill

Bill:

He didnt say. Brush tip would not be a bad idea, at lest be ready for. Need to do some more reserch on this. I will let you know if I find out anything.

John

Bill

I found this bulletin. Answers many of our questions. Notice the fine print on page 6.
http://www.yachtpaint.com/Images/15_6819.pdf

John

I have done the peel away twice and the barrier coat.

The Peel-Away is tricky and it is very dependent on the temp of the hull and thinkness of the old paint. What I found happened with the many layers of old paint was that it would eat through the first few layers and then the paper would separate from the next layers causing me to do another coat. Get the big 5 gallon buckets at HD. I think I went through 4 the first year.

As for the barrier coat. Just roll on and then you can sand down if needed. The stuff is soooo thick I would go for a small nap roller and be done with it and then sand it down smooth. The stuff is really soft and sands easily.

As for bottom paint I would check out E-Paint Z0 www.epaint.com . It is a zinc based paint that works amazing. I put it on and never have to have the bottom cleaned. Yes I swear. I have someone go down mid season just to check and he has yet to charge me because the bottom is so clean.

The company is right down on the Cape so you could probably drive and pick it up and save some shipping charges.

DB
#397

Great reference John! For those not wanting to read through the entire document...

"Do not use the 'Thumb Print' test when applying VC® Offshore, Baltoplate® or any vinyl antifouling over Interprotect. Allow the Interprotect to cure overnight and then sand with 80-grit sandpaper."

David - does the stuff you bought at Home Depot also remove existing barrier coat? I know there are two versions of the Marine grade, one that does, and the other that doesn't. I read somewhere that the non-marine grade stuff also softened the gelcoat. Did you have any problems like that?

I'm not sure if you are talking about VC17 or VC Offshore, but I sprayed VC Offshore on my J30 for about 5 years. I bought a 1 gallon can and the appropriate thinner. I would then walk around the boat spraying a thin coat. This would usually get me around the boat two times and then I would use up almost all of the rest for another run at the waterline, keel and rudder without stopping in between coats. The little bit left over I would use for touching up where the jackstands and keel blocking were.