postponing antifouling paint job. OK or not OK?

[ferrailleur]

I'm ready to close on buying my first keelboat (Catalina 27). I had her hauled out for a survey out of the water. We scraped out a lot of barnacles and pressure washed the hull. The surveyor said that the paint was exhausted.
My question: since we did a quick cleaning before launching her again could the antifouling paint job be postponed for some 14 more months. I intend to leave her on my slip this winter and hauled her before the winter of 2019.
Any problem delaying the needed antifouling paint job?
Thanks

[flyingfin]

Yes if you can berth her in a river where the water is brackish or fresh.

[Dr. D]

Not OK. That is, if you buy the boat.

[dkenny64]

if you buy the boat..sure..but the bottom will be in worse shape than during
the inspection..more crude on the bottom



but what about the zincs??


-dkenny64

[Dsanduril]

Antifouling doesn't do much to protect the physical structure of the boat (blisters, etc.) so, to me, no worries there.

Then just a question of how foul a bottom you are willing to accept? Are you allowed to do in the water cleaning at your locale? Are you willing to do it yourself? If you start with a clean bottom after the survey, and clean every 4 to 6 weeks during the summer (the longer you wait the harder it will be) then you can probably have a fine sailing season and wait for the bottom job.

[meirriba]

The only purpose of the antifouling is to keep marine growth away.
So - it depends on three things. One is the the water where the boat is. Is it prone to grow marine life or not.
Second - can you dive and scrape whatever does attach itself to the bottom?
Third - how often do you sail.The more time the boat sail, you have less barnacles. The barnacles like the boat to be moored...
And last - if you do have marine growth attached, your price will be slower sailing (more fuel burnt if you motor).

[Whisper Cappy]

Was there any paint left on the hull or is there bare spots exposing the gelcoat?

If bottom paint on boat but just lost it's antifouling characteristics then you can easily get to 2019. If exposed gelcoat then can still make it to 2019. Either way just make sure hull is cleaned every month in the summer and every other month in the winter. Do not let hard growth get on bottom because diver will have to scrape hull, not desired.

If inboard engine then need to concern yourself with the shaft zinc. That would be true even if you hauled and painted. This is very important!

Enjoy your new to you Catalina 27. Great Boat!!!

[Terra Nova]

Very foolish to not bottom paint while it is already clean and hauled out.

[Halien]

I once tried putting off a bottom job for an extra year. That Winter in the PNW (salt water) didn't produce much extra fouling, but once the sun came out the bottom was a mess. I had a diver clean it three times that season, and it was always fouled again within a week. Soft fouling doesn't usually cause structural damage, but your boat won't budge either unless you have pretty stiff winds. Oh, and your speed transducer will quit working when the paddle wheel clogs. And your prop will be coated in marine growth that you think will slough off when you start the motor, but instead causes vibration.

If you can clean your own bottom every time it needs it (maybe you're in warm water or own a wet/dry suit), then a fresh bottom job isn't critical. I'm in Puget Sound, where the water is always cold, so the idea of diving my own boat every time I go out is unpalatable, to say the least.

NB: In my state you can't clean boat bottoms in your slip if they're painted with ablative paint.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

Very foolish to not bottom paint while it is already clean and hauled out.

Yep, what he/she said!

It’s out, it’s clean, it’s cheaper now, ...

[Whisper Cappy]

I assumed that you did a short haul for the survey and boat is back in the water.

If not and still out of water then yes paint the hull, however, if you want to delay your painting can still can see my prior post for it still applies.

Most yards will give you a discount on your haul and launch fees when you come back to haul and paint at a later date, however, there is normally a time restriction for your return and still receive a discount. Talk to the yard for it may save a couple of dollars. 14 months may be a bit too long.

I happen to have a lot of knowledge (33 years in the business) on both in water bottom cleaning/maintenance and haul-out yards if you want to talk off line. Let me know.

Good Luck and Smooth Sailing!

[1Sunseeker]

I would probably paint it. It is not that much work to tape and paint/install the zincs yourself or with a friend. Probably can be done in one day if you only paint one coat. Two as you let the first coat dry. I did mine solo in two days a 32' and I am 80 years old. But get the tape off as quick as you can as it loves to pull off your painted boot stripe when removed. A diver will charge $125.+ to clean ever couple months and some marinas will not allow a diver or U to clean the bottom in the water. They will make you haul and they pressure wash it. More $ to the marinas. Plus it is sort of fun to take care of your own boat done right and you will gain respect in the yard. The work beers are OK also.

[thinwater]

Haul it this fall. That's boat maintenance.


Depending on where you are in the Bay it can winter in the water... if you check on her.

[jmschmidt]

There is no real need to ever apply antifouling bottom paint to a fiberglass boat. Bottom paint is for the convenience of the owner (longer times between cleaning) and it may save a little money over the cost of periodic commercial cleanings for a year or two. Now painting the bottom with four coats of an epoxy barrier coat will prevent water intrusion into the glass which will definitely extend the life of the boat.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by ferrailleur

I'm ready to close on buying my first keelboat (Catalina 27). I had her hauled out for a survey out of the water. We scraped out a lot of barnacles and pressure washed the hull. The surveyor said that the paint was exhausted.
My question: since we did a quick cleaning before launching her again could the antifouling paint job be postponed for some 14 more months. I intend to leave her on my slip this winter and hauled her before the winter of 2019.
Any problem delaying the needed antifouling paint job?
Thanks

You answered your own question, Scraped barnacles and the surveyor said the paint was exhausted.