Bottom Job

Inquiry** how often do you clean your bottom (your boat's)?**** KJ

Clean and paint annually.

KJ,
The answer to this question is going to vary widely depending on where a boat is located. On inland lakes/rivers with no sal****er, you can easily go 4-5 years between needing bottom paint. If in south FL, you are going to need a diver scrubbing the bottom monthly and new paint annually. That is about the spectrum so depending on where a boat is located, you will be somewhere at or between those 2 extremes. General rule: freshwater boat= once every 4-5 years. Sal****er: about once a year, combined with monthly dives to clean if in warm climate.

I am curious what our PNW friends say though- very limited experience on my end of things with PNW cruising but I hope to change that one day!

-- Edited by Woodsong on Tuesday 1st of February 2011 04:33:30 PM

Ok, why on earth is the forum automatically editing my post above when I type the word
S a l t w a t e r???

Woodsong wrote:Ok, why on earth is the forum automatically editing my post above when I type the word
S a l t w a t e r???

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who knew sal****er was a dirty word?* we are in sal****er in the SF Bay.

We have the growth cleaned off every three months and get new bottom paint ~two years.** The trawler is new to us though, this is based on our sailboats so not sure how this will differ with the trawler.*

*

That is pretty funny!!!!

I do not redo my bottom until things start growing on it. I usually get close to 4 years out of it down here. I do use my boat quite a bit so that may be the reason. I also go with the higher end paints as well.

Six months to the first clean after new paint, and 3-monthly after that.
Usually get*18 to 20 months between painting. I put an extra 2 gallons on last time in the hope of getting 2 full years.
Auckland, NZ, temperate climate.

*T*W*A*T* lol

GonzoF1 wrote:

*T*W*A*T* lol

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oh dude, seriously!* that is too funny.* I guess we have to write salt water.

*

i was curious about same and also wanted opinions on bottom cleanings or scrubs.

i have been informed differently by different (local) people but i guess they are commercially biased.

one told me a bottomcleaning every 2 months in the winter and every 30-40 days in the summer.
located in long beach ca, water temps usually high 50's winter to high 60's summer.

the shipyard and others have informed me every 2 years for bottom paint, but i am guessing the more frequent you clean bottom the better and longer the paint will last.
i think also the state of your zinc's can have influence?

I haven't had to do a bottom job since*I sold my sailboat about 12 yrs ago.*The boat was berthed in a marina on San Francisco*Bay.*At that time*paints with high copper content were starting to be banned due to the toxicity to the local fauna. I think this was a state ordinance but*I had heard that there was going to be a federal ban or limit on*the content of anti-fouling paints also.* So, do you follow your local state or federal regs when doing your bottom?* I also read that some yards charge a surtax (fee) for treating or handling the water from*the wash down of your old paint.* Also, do you sand the old stuff off*completely, or just paint over what's left of it?*
I sail on a fr**sh water*lake now so I don't need bottom paint now, but when I do, I'd like to know what the trawler*folks do.*** KJ

Vancouver BC. Annual zinc replacement is often too late for the zincs. Annual bottom paint renewal is often too soon, but you are out of the water for the zincs anyway, so do the paint. The cost of the day is a lot more than the cost of the paint.
I use stuff that builds up, but its adhesion is good enough that I don't try to remove any and it builds up year after year. There are spots that try to fall off, so there are some minor ups and downs in the surface. A little bit of scraper will smooth the edges out and all looks fine once the new paint is on. I try to change colours form time to time, just so I will notice if ever an old colour shows through. The boat is immersed all year, but moves a lot less in the winter.

4 to 5 years on LakeUnion which is fresh.* This is the third year in Everett which is brackish, fresh and salt.* The first 2 to 3 ft is fresh and salty lower down.* Every 6 months have a diver check the zincs, clean the through hulls, prop, rudder and heavy growth.* We are planning on pulling this summer but I will ask my diver if it time.*


I use Pettit Trinadaded*

I've been getting 2 & 1/2 years out of Micron 66, but it's top shelf stuff, and expensive, and the limiting factor was the hard stuff used on the running gear anyway, so this last time I went Micron Extra - reputed to be much the same, with PropSpeed on the running gear, so here's hoping of getting 3 yrs maybe. Queensland subtropical water - oh yeah and it is ****ty water...

Up here in the great white north I am getting about 3 years on bottom paint.
The growth depends on how much you use the boat. cold Sal****er.

SD

We clean the bottom every 3-5 weeks based on where we are anchored and*if we have a passage coming up.**It's amazing the difference in the amount of growth vs how fertile the water is.**The bottom is painted with Trinidad SR.*

The bottom isn't the issue as much as the*propeller, rudder (SS) and rudder shoe (SS).***We've tried everything but*Prop-Speed (expensive).* It takes us about 45 minutes to do the bottom including the water line.* That 1/4 to 1/2 knot we get with a clean bottom is worth the effort for us, plus the water is usually in the 80's.* We use*a 1 hp AC oi-less air compressor with 60 feet of air hose.

Larry/Lena
Hobo KK42
Huatulco, Oaxaco, MX

koliver wrote:

Vancouver BC. Annual zinc replacement is often too late for the zincs. Annual bottom paint renewal is often too soon, but you are out of the water for the zincs anyway, so do the paint. The cost of the day is a lot more than the cost of the paint.
I use stuff that builds up, but its adhesion is good enough that I don't try to remove any and it builds up year after year. There are spots that try to fall off, so there are some minor ups and downs in the surface. A little bit of scraper will smooth the edges out and all looks fine once the new paint is on. I try to change colours form time to time, just so I will notice if ever an old colour shows through. The boat is immersed all year, but moves a lot less in the winter.

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my diver (who does the bottom job scrub) also change zincs as required, typically zincs are replaced every 6-8 months or so.

no reason to haul her out unless it is for something larger.

you might consider..

Phil,

You may not want to wait for your diver.* Several yards in the PS*have free haul outs with a bottom job and there is 10% labor discount available.

Just a thought incase you'd like to save a few bucks.

I've been using Interlux Micron Extra and the last job got me 3 yrs but I had to scrape the whole bottom w a 2" scraper. Last fall I put $80. a gallon AF paint on Willy. I saw many gallons of the stuff in the store and assumed all the fishermen used it. Most of the time we just go on the grid (see photo) do a bit of cleaning and slop on a coat of AF every year.
I want to get on the grid to install my new propeller fairly soon.

KJ wrote:

Inquiry** how often do you clean your bottom (your boat's)?**** KJ

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We cannot have divers clean bottoms in our marina (the same is true of some other marinas in Puget Sound).* They can knock off barnacles and do underwater hardware work like replacing zincs but no bottom wipe-downs.

We have our boat dove on about every six months for zinc replacement and to check things like the cutless bearings in the struts.* Also as the paint wears out*they *knock off any barnacles on through-hull strainers, rudders,*etc.* Six months seems to be the average life for a shaft zinc in our marina.* I can change the transom zincs myself although if they're worn down at the time of a dive we have them change them.* In our slip we also hang a used*zinc on a heavy wire down about six feet below the surface, but I can change that when it needs it.

We normally have the bottom*painted every two years.* This time we've*gone three years because*every time we*scheduled a haul-out Boeing sent me off*somewhere.* We usually haul and paint in Februrary or*early March.** So our bottom paint is worn out now and will look like hell when we haul out.

-- Edited by Marin on Wednesday 2nd of February 2011 10:04:31 PM

Larry M wrote:

We clean the bottom every 3-5 weeks based on where we are anchored and*if we have a passage coming up.**It's amazing the difference in the amount of growth vs how fertile the water is.**The bottom is painted with Trinidad SR.*

The bottom isn't the issue as much as the*propeller, rudder (SS) and rudder shoe (SS).***We've tried everything but*Prop-Speed (expensive).* It takes us about 45 minutes to do the bottom including the water line.* That 1/4 to 1/2 knot we get with a clean bottom is worth the effort for us, plus the water is usually in the 80's.* We use*a 1 hp AC oi-less air compressor with 60 feet of air hose.

Larry/Lena
Hobo KK42
Huatulco, Oaxaco, MX

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I know I'm gonna sound really stupid on this one, but here goes.

You are diving to do the bottom aren't you?* I haven't heard of diving with a* compressed air rig.*Sounds like a pretty good alternative to scrapping*or scrubbing while diving. *Where do you have the compressor located? *Are*you doing the diving yourselves?* I've been in Mexican waters and I know how warm it is, but can you really get that much growth in 5 weeks?* *

*

In NE Florida, clean bottom monthly, two coats of Sea Hawk ablative paint every 2 years. Boat is kept in salt water

KJ wrote:


..........I haven't heard of diving with a* compressed air rig.*Sounds like a pretty good alternative to scrapping*or scrubbing while diving. *Where do you have the compressor located? *Are*you doing the diving yourselves?* I've been in Mexican waters and I know how warm it is, but can you really get that much growth in 5 weeks?****
*

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*Take a look at http://www.browniesthirdlunginfo.com/electric-third-lung.html*

We made ours for ~$250.* We just plug into an outlet and run it off the inverter or generator.

You would be amazed how much growth you get in 80 plus degree water that has a high nutrient load.** We've found that*it doesn't take much growth to loose*a 1/2*knot.* Hobo's full displacement and*that 1/2*knot*translates into*about a 5% performance loss.*

Here is a site with information on "hooka" diving. there are also several other sites on building your own rig, search "hooka diving rig"

http://www.keeneengineering.com/pamphlets/howhookah.html

They recommend on anyone thinking of doing this still get scuba instruction regarless of how shallow you will be diving.
A side note I have Atrial fibrillation, my cardiologist recommended I not do any sort of compressed air diving Maybe over cautious??
Steve W.

Ed, thank for the information.* To cold and wet to pull, I usually pull in June/July when the weather is reasonable warm/dry.* *Being Everett is Brackish and the first to 2 to 3 ft is fresh its the bottom ½ of the hull, mainly the keel and the running gear that get the growth.* *This year going to have 3 more through hulls filled in, check the dripless and maybe paint the hull below the rub rail.* So will be out about 2 weeks.*


*
Eric, great picture of your boat on a grid. Before we head up your way, I plan on adding twin keels to the Eagle so it will stand up right on a grid for inspection and/or repairs as I am planning on going a ground a couple of times with the big tide swings.***Well, since we are going to be here for 6 to 8 hours may as well clean the hull and running gear.* * *

Larry M wrote:

You would be amazed how much growth you get in 80 plus degree water that has a high nutrient load.

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First, I think we should deputize someone to go to Mexico and make sure Larry is there and not posting from a trailer park outside of Scranton, PA.*

Second, Larry, what is your preferred method for attaching yourself to the boat for leverage when you're cleaning, and what kind of scrubber do you like to use?*

Thanks!

*

To hang on to the hull I use the window glass suction handles when cleaning/washing/varnishing/painting the hull from the dink. They are 5 buck at Harbor Freight. I think that is what the diver uses also.* *The Eagle hull sides are a straight up and down so I can brush/clean the bow, sides and sterns with a long pole with a brush.* Every 6 months the diver cleans the through hulls, prop/running gear and the heavier growth. **One month of the summer sunny growth is about equal to 9 months of cloud/rain, and muddy river run off growth.* ************
*
When the boat is pulled, I have the bottom pressure wash twice, the first to get the majority of the growth, then let it hang dry to see what is missed, and then a second time to get the remaining stuff that is missed.* That way it does not take as long to prep the hull to paint it.* *

great info on the "hooka" diving, i always wondered if there is such a thing as breathable air in a can?
guess i could google it but you guys really deliver..

Delfin wrote:

First, I think we should deputize someone to go to Mexico and make sure Larry is there and not posting from a trailer park outside of Scranton, PA.*

Second, Larry, what is your preferred method for attaching yourself to the boat for leverage when you're cleaning, and what kind of scrubber do you like to use?*

Thanks!

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Carl:* Send the the posse down.* The beers are cold and the waters warm.*

We don't attach our selves to the bottom of the boat.* When we are doing the rudder and prop, there's enough stuff to hang onto.* When we are doing the hull I use a 12" SS finishing sheetrock knife.* I*swim*along the sides and it's like mowing the grass.* Lena usually does the water line with a plastic scraper and this is the only area we might wipe down.* The professional bottom cleaners ($1.00/ft USD) use the course scotch pads but chew threw the boat paint pretty fast.* The bottoms do look good.*

I use a screw driver for the thru-hulls.* We weren't getting enough flow at the water maker's thru-hull one time.**Barnacles had taken up residence and*with the high water flow they flourished to the point*that I was starving the high pressure pump.


Larry/Lena
Hobo KK42
Huatulca, Oaxaco, MX*

Per wrote:

great info on the "hooka" diving, i always wondered if there is such a thing as breathable air in a can?
*

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Per, there is a small tank that some scuba divers use as a backup or emergency air supply. It's used mainly by folks that are doing deep penetration on wreck dives and is mandatory for deep cave dives. It's referred to as a "pony" tank, and they are pretty expensive (around $200).* I would rather look into Larry's set up.** KJ

*


-- Edited by KJ on Thursday 3rd of February 2011 05:14:39 PM