PETTIT PROTECT HEAVY DUTY TWO COMPONENT EPOXY PRIMER
My Catalina 36 is being sanded down by the marina and then I am going to be applying VC 17. Boat is exclusively sailed on the upper Mississippi and in the water for about five months of the year. At first sight the marina thinks my boat never had a barrier coat applied over the gelcoat. This will be confirmed to me soon. I have successfully used the VC-17 on this boat for the past seven years. Since I’m going through the expense of having the hull sanded down I am thinking about possibly reapplying or first time applying barrier coat.
1- if my boat turns out not to had had a barrier coat, and I've really not had an issue with VC17 before, do I really need to? I am not planning on taking it down to the Carribbean, yet thinking I should do it considering I want to keep the boat another 15-20 years..
2- How much product do I need for Catalina 36?
. Instructions recommend two applications of barrier coat.
3- Can you give me your experience using this product. I’m sure it works well but just want to get others input before I take the plunge...
peter g
2000 C36, MK2, Hull. #1897
wonderful, wonderful, wonderful ! ! !. 5 th Catalina
Peter,
As a fresh water sailor I have used VC-17 30 plus years, easy to do and works well. If you're having the boat sanded all the way to bare hull, I would recommend a barrier/primer coat. Twenty five years ago, I used VC-tar. What a mess and the finish was not all that good. Many years later, I used Interlux 2000E with very good results and still use it, when some modest repair work is done. Defender Industries is generally the best price. If at the end of sanding fairing with a filter is used, several coats are necessary, for clean fiberglass two coat is fine. As for the VC-17, I'd put 2-3 coats on for the initial painting, then one coat each season is good.
One trick is to put the first base coat of VC-17 in red, the top coat is either blue or original. That will allow to judge the state of the painted surface as the year go on. When the red bleeds through at 2 or 3 coats again.
Hope this helps.
Lou Bruska
Sojourn
1985 C-36 Mk-I TR #495
Eldean Shipyard
Lake Macatawa (Holland, MI) Lake Michigan
Rallyback@comcast.net
Thanks Lou. I think Pente was kept at Macatawa during summers prior to my buying the boat. We had a great time at the Catalina Rendevous in late summer 2012. Beautiful place, wonderful people. If you're out our way (Pepin, WI is 75 minute SE of MSP, 50 minutes straight east of Rochester, MN, let me know. Pente waits you & family for an afternoon sail with us.
I'll post a follow up when work is done and Pente is in the water.
peter g
2000 C36, MK2, Hull. #1897
wonderful, wonderful, wonderful ! ! !. 5 th Catalina