Bottom Paint for Ranger Tug

[Newf]

I’ve been getting a couple of quotes for bottom paint for my 21ft Ranger Tug. The bottom currently has the original Gelcoat. One company said that he wouldn’t blast the bottom because it would cause holes (then it would be a filling game). He would recommend sanding the bottom and then interprotect and bottom paint it. Another company said he would blast, apply epoxy layer and paint. I don’t know anything about this stuff. Any comments/recommendations?

 

[Aquaholic]

Did you look at the Hempel silicone bottom paint? Not sure on the prep method for untouched gel coat though.

 

[Newf]

Did you look at the Hempel silicone bottom paint? Not sure on the prep method for untouched gel coat though.

I haven't looked at any particulars yet and would have to rely on the shop doing the work as I know nothing about coatings so would not be something that I would tackle myself. Just wondering about the blasting versus sanding the gelcoat that the two shops talked about.

 

[tubber]

If there is no wood core, water can't rot the core by seeping into the cracks. Bleach or maybe mild muriatic acid, then pressure wash once in a while to get the black out of the cracks, keep using mats and go fishing.

 

[zurk]

pressure wash and epoxy then paint with hard bottom paint.

 

[Newf]

If there is no wood core, water can't rot the core by seeping into the cracks. Bleach or maybe mild muriatic acid, then pressure wash once in a while to get the black out of the cracks, keep using mats and go fishing.

This must be for my thread on the floor gelcoat cracking and not the bottom paint????

 

[Rayvon]

Gelcoat MUST be sanded or media blasted for the interprotect epoxy to bond well. The recommended application is 4 coats epoxy followed by 2 coats bottom paint.

 

[brutus]

Gelcoat MUST be sanded or media blasted for the interprotect epoxy to bond well. The recommended application is 4 coats epoxy followed by 2 coats bottom paint.

This is your answer, what @Rayvon just said.go hard bottom paint if you pay someone to do it, I use a soft paint on mine, but have to do it every 3-4 years. With hard paint you will get a bit longer. The gel need to be sanded of blasted( not a fan of the blasting) lots of horror story from blasting

 

[Newf]

Thanks for the feedback guys. It's very much appreciated. I'm holding off doing this for as long as I can as I am still trailing the boat but that can change at any time and I would have to do the bottom before putting it in a marina.

 

[tubber]

This must be for my thread on the floor gelcoat cracking and not the bottom paint????

Sorry

 

[brutus]

Thanks for the feedback guys. It's very much appreciated. I'm holding off doing this for as long as I can as I am still trailing the boat but that can change at any time and I would have to do the bottom before putting it in a marina.

If you don’t mind pulling out once in a while to power wash the bottom, I would not open the bottom paint can of worms personally, once you bottom paint it’s over lol, need to be done every few years or or the bottom of your boat looks like a Woodstock hair job with a woke tinge on it

 

[Howzer]

Blasting is usually only needed if you are also removing layers of bottom paint... sanding should be sufficient for roughening up the gelcoat to accept a barrier coat.

If you're considering bottom paint you must be leaving your boat in throughout the summer?; otherwise see the post above.