Bottom Paint Frequency

[archangel]

Diver stated that it was time for bottom paint, last done 5 years ago. We get bottom cleaned every month , zincs changed when needed. We have owned the boat for 15 years, waited 7 years for the first haul out. Both haul outs required some blister repair , yard always stated that our hull looked o.k. during the maintenance. Would appreciate some advice , or experiences from other sailors who wait an extra few years for the bottom paint ritual. Also, we had a dripless installed on the shaft last haul out , was advised that they need to be serviced periodically . Was curious at what the maintenance involves. Thanks for the response.

 

[Loren Beach]

Quite a bit of "PSS seal" discussion in this recent thread: https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/32-3-“dripless”-pss-v-traditional-stuffing-box-opinions-please.21856/page-2#post-178114

 

[Frank Langer]

I have never let my bottom paint go longer than every three years, and most sailors here refresh it annually or at most every two years, so I'm a bit the exception. It might also vary with the kind of paint used and water conditions in your area.
I would suggest talking with local folk and local boatyards about their recommendations, as conditions, algae and critters do vary.
Frank

 

[bgary]

It depends. Salt water, fresh or brackish? warm water or cold? hard-burnished racing finish or ablative? Is the bottom scrubbed or just wiped down periodically? Is the boat used a lot or does it mostly sit in the slip?

My ablative lasts about 3 years in the Puget Sound. Sometimes more, but... 3 years is about right.

 

[AdventurousAnton]

My experience here in the SF Bay area (I'm on Alameda Island) was every three years with my old Catalina 42. When I was on Hilton Head Island aboard Meridian (Soverel 36 CB, Hull #6) it was every two years, and she was scrubbed monthly for 8 out of 12 months. The warm waters there led to growth almost instantaneously. My divers here in SF (Peterson Marine Services Inc. /Fast Bottom) recommend every three years, and Andiamo! is overdue for a haul-out and bottom job. They recommend Pettit Trinidad...and I trust those cats. When we have her hauled, we're also going to upgrade instrumentation (she's stock right now) and get new canvas made for the hatch/pedestal/teak handrails.

We sail almost every weekend (weather permitting), so I look forward to the upgrades.

 

[Chris "Tako" Green]

My experience here in the SF Bay area (I'm on Alameda Island) was every three years with my old Catalina 42. When I was on Hilton Head Island aboard Meridian (Soverel 36 CB, Hull #6) it was every two years, and she was scrubbed monthly for 8 out of 12 months. The warm waters there led to growth almost instantaneously. My divers here in SF (Peterson Marine Services Inc. /Fast Bottom) recommend every three years, and Andiamo! is overdue for a haul-out and bottom job. They recommend Pettit Trinidad...and I trust those cats. When we have her hauled, we're also going to upgrade instrumentation (she's stock right now) and get new canvas made for the hatch/pedestal/teak handrails.

We sail almost every weekend (weather permitting), so I look forward to the upgrades.

I was considering upgrades on my next haul. I have a Garmin with transom mounted transucer (Chirp, Side view, traditional) What other upgrades or tech would you or could you add? I dont konw if I will upgrade to a thru hull transducer for the Garmin but there is an old paddle wheel tranducer stuck in my hull I plan to remove.

Sorry for hijacking the thread a bit...

 

[Pete the Cat]

I was considering upgrades on my next haul. I have a Garmin with transom mounted transucer (Chirp, Side view, traditional) What other upgrades or tech would you or could you add? I dont konw if I will upgrade to a thru hull transducer for the Garmin but there is an old paddle wheel tranducer stuck in my hull I plan to remove.

Sorry for hijacking the thread a bit...

This is the time to carefully inspect your stuffing box components, cutless bearing, and strut for pinkness, and rudder bearings for slop, fix the dings in the boot stripe. I am old school conservative about adding gizmos--seems like there is always more to do at haulout than I ever imagine.

 

[Chris "Tako" Green]

This is the time to carefully inspect your stuffing box components, cutless bearing, and strut for pinkness, and rudder bearings for slop, fix the dings in the boot stripe. I am old school conservative about adding gizmos--seems like there is always more to do at haulout than I ever imagine.

Yes! I planned to check the cutlas bearing. That one .makes me nervous, only because everyone makes it !look like a difficult job. I hadn't thought about the rudder bearing or even what a new one runs. I will need to look up what a boot stripe is.

 

[bgary]

I will need to look up what a boot stripe is.

boot stripe is the stripe along (just above) the waterline. (and sheer stripe is the stripe along (just below) the hull-deck joint)

 

[Jim Picerno]

Yes! I planned to check the cutlas bearing. That one .makes me nervous, only because everyone makes it !look like a difficult job. I hadn't thought about the rudder bearing or even what a new one runs. I will need to look up what a boot stripe is.

Hi there. I don't want to hijack the thread either but how exactly do you check the cutlass bearing? My new boat is on the hard til spring and while nothing came up on the survey I'd like to check this myself.

 

[Pete the Cat]

Just shake the shaft with the propeller. There should be no play in the bearing. Most surveyors, even the poor ones, will check this routinely.