Articles about Catamaran Maintenance

More Editorial by J. Summer WestmanNovember 2006 IssueKeeping crud off the bottom of a boat has been a problem for mariners … well, probably since before recorded history. From oil to tar; from tin and copper sheeting to tin- and copper-based paints; and even from chili powder to indelible markers … Boaters have tried everything to keep their boat bot toms smooth and clean. Environmental concerns, however, are forcing mariners to find new ways to protect their boats without poisoning their playground or workplace. If you are a new owner, you might be wondering why you need bo.....

In a word … Yes. While the racer, the cruiser, and the one-weekend-a-month fisherman may all own fiberglass boats, their anti-fouling needs are very different. Different paints are designed for different types of water and weather conditions. You and your best friend may own identical 40’ sailboats, but if you keep your boat in the Caribbean and your friend’s boat is on a lake in the northeastern United States, each boat will need different anti-fouling paint.Hard anti-fouling paints which work on contact with water are ideal for go-fast boats and racing sailboats. They are also g.....

So what is the best anti-fouling paint for your boat? How do you choose from all those paints that are on the market? We have already seen that type of water, boat usage, and water temperature will have an effect on the type of anti-fouling paint that you will need. Let’s take a look at some other issues … One of your biggest concerns will be your budget. Aside from the cost of getting the work done, or buying the tools to do it yourself (as well as paying for yard time), you must look at the price of anti-fouling paint. Pettit Paint’s Trinidad SR, recommended for high fouling areas,.....

One of the big deals is that the dust from sanding anti-fouling paint is toxic – you don’t want it in your lungs or in your eyes. Experts recommend wet sanding old anti-fouling paint, capturing the residue, and then disposing of it as hazardous waste. Some boatyards, such as Independence in St. Thomas, have installed dustless sanders; they are loud, but they capture the poisoned dust. You can use chemical paint removers to do the job, but they, too, are hazardous to your health; proper care must be taken during use and clean up. Sand-blasting is yet another way to remove old anti-foul.....

Now that the bottom of your boat is prepped and ready to go, you have to make a decision. Will you apply the paint yourself or will you pay a boatyard to do it? Most boatyards allow owners (and regular crew) to work on their boats. You will pay a lay-day fee, which can range from $0.50 per foot per day, to $5.00 per foot per day, not including water and electricity. Some boatyards will allow you to bring in outside contractors, which will cost more; some will require you to use contractors from their approved list. Yacht clubs, though not all, sometimes allow such work in designated.....

So far, we have been looking at ways to protect the bottom of your boat by using various types of anti-fouling paints. However, if your bottom paint fails, it cannot do its job. In this article, we will examine ways to care for your bottom paint, as well as methods of taking care of your boat-bottom without using paint. Maintaining Bottom Paint Bottom paint can fail for many reasons. Among them are: 1. Improper prep and/or application. If the surface of the boat is not properly prepared, anti-fouling paint can peel right off. A too-thin application of paint will result in anti-foul.....