Painting a Hull with Sea Hawk 44

[landonshaw]

I have a hull painting question.

We had the hull cleaned with a high pressure hose and scrapped when our boat was put on the hard. Then I scrapped the entire hull with a small scraper and my wife followed with 80 grit paper. All of the barnacles were removed but there was still residue from where they had been.

I was three quarters down painting my first coat and a marina guy came over and started talking and noticed the residue. He commented that I should have removed all of the barnacles. Was he looking for a job or when you prepare the hull do you remove every barnacle and all of the residue? He also was asking if we needed the inside cleaned or the dinghy.

I don't want to over clean, but also don't want to waste money by not doing it correctly. I was going to use a hand sander but had been advised that that wasn't necessary.

Can anyone give me some advice.

[Find Wind Rose]

i am wondering the same thing!!
anyone some help on the topic please!!

[Jentine]

I have been painting over the footprint for years with not adverse effects. I merely scrape the site and paint.

[Viking Sailor]

A yard boss/owner once told me the if I can't get it off with a 2000 psi pressure wash it is good enough to paint over.

Paul

[s/v Jedi]

You can paint over, sure, why not? The question is if it is desirable to do so. And of course, everyone understands that it isn't. If it would have been good, they would have put them on while building the boat.

I wouldn't worry too much but next paint job, get the power sander out and sand it all away and back smooth again. For the time being, you don't have a skeleton in the closet, but countless barnacle skeletons incorporated in the bottom paint ;-)

cheers,
Nick.

[landonshaw]

I will bring my power sander back on the plane instead of an anchor next year. Thanks for the help.

[imagine2frolic]

The smoother the bottom. The easier to move through the water........i2f

[speciald@ocens.]

I had a problem with the islander 44 soft ablative - it wore off after 6 months at the bow, waterline and lead edge of keel and rudder despite 3 coats in these area. I swithched to the hard ablative (marketed for power boats) and it has lasted two years in tropical waters.

[landonshaw]

I am using Sea Hawk 44 Plus @ 195 per gal. It is suppose to be harder, time will tell. I hope it will last longer than 6 mths!! We are located in Grenada and sail weekends. Thank you for the heads up, I will continue to watch those areas in particular.

[s/v Jedi]

Landonshaw,

that stuff lasts 3 years for us in the Caribbean, so you should be fine.

Two important factors:

1. Everyone knows this one but it's too important to skip: mix mix mix and mix and mix more each individual gallon can of paint before applying. Use those stirr thingies with the powerdrill and a flat stick. When you think it's good, empty the can in another container, scrape out the stuff that didn't mix well (even though you thought is was good) and mix mix mix again in the other container. Use one gallon up before starting on the next.

2. A very simple trick: after applying all the bottom paint, wait at least 5 days or preferably 7 days before launching. It will last much longer and work better.

cheers,
Nick.

[roverhi]

Waiting is okay for ablatives but vinyls want to back in the water ASAP. Read the paint instructions when making a decision how long to wait before launching.

[s/v Jedi]

Roverhi: absolutely correct.

ciao!
Nick.

[Cheechako]

Not to worry, the paint is sacrificial as are the barnacles.

[landonshaw]

I mixed until my rechargeable ran out of juice.

The 5 to 7 days will be easy since I now have to replace valves.

Thank you for the advice, I will have a drink before I start the next project so as to take up time.

[Caribsailors]

I'm into my 5th year but due for a new bottom, using Island 44. Honduras beckons!