Dinghy Bottom

[Island15]

Do you need antifouling paint on the bottom? Its never in the water more than a day of two at a time! Thanks

 

[rwidman]

No, just clean it off when you pull it out f the water.

 

[koliver]

Even a couple of weeks only needs a wipe with a sponge and no permanent growth. 4 weeks is definitely too much time, as the cleanup is much more challenging.

I did apply anti-fouling to the immersed glass parts of my dinghy but not to the hypalon parts. So far, that paint has lasted 3 summers and when I redo it it will be due to grinding it off on beaching not because the anti-fouling properties have stopped working. So far, I haven't seen any need to apply it to the hypalon parts.

 

[Island15]

I was just thinking the fiberglass part. I would like to just leave the normal paint no antifouling. I think it looks better, but I wanted to make sure it would clean up ok! Thanks

 

[MYTraveler]

In some areas, 4 days is enough for the hard critters to take hold over all of the fiberglass and even the tubes. since that experience, I never leave mine in the water more than two days without at least pulling it out overnight.

 

[psneeld]

sort of depends where you cruise...but there are also waxes that act like antifouling in the sense that growth has a harder time attaching and come off when running fast or wipe off easier.

 

[dhays]

I made the mistake once of leaving my RIB in the water at my slip for a few weeks. I ended up with a lot of barnacles on the bottom which were a pain to get off. After that I always pull the RIB out of the water when it isn't being used. While we are cruising, I don't bother as it gets moved daily.

 

[HopCar]

I would certainly try it without bottom paint. If you decide you do need bottom paint, be sure you use one that doesn't have a limited life out of the water. Interlux Micron Extra might be a good choice.