bottom paint

[Jeff Lavallee]

Any ideas on how to tell what is on my hull now? I want to put another coat on before she goes in the water and do not know what the previous owner put on it ( can't get in touch with him either). It is red and is on a 27 AC Family Cruiser.

[chiefrcd]

Is it in good shape? I think most paints can be painted over if the paint is in good shape and not flaking off. I've got 7 different kinds of bottom paint on my boat. Several coats of Micon Extra, two coats of Micron 66 and a couple of real cheapies. I figure that if my fiberglass just dissolves, I'll have a hull made from anti-fouling paint.

[Russell]

The only caveat I have heard of is you cannot put non-ablative paints over ablative. If it were mine I would use ablative anyway and you will not have a problem.

[RicM]

You shouldn't paint over ablative paint because it's made to wear off over time & contact, meaning it does not provide a solid base for new, different paint to hold onto. You can usually tell if it's an ablative by hauling, letting it dry, and then rubbing your had over it. If your hand is red with chalky loose paint, it's probably ablative. Usually ablative is put over a different color so you can see when it's wearing through.