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Amount of VC-17 to cover

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zumwaltd
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/18/2009 : 10:06:03

I have completed sanding th bottom of my 87 fk and am ready to paint. How much paint (VC-17) do I need to buy to cover keel and bottom. How long will VC-17 last if I purchase a gallon. Thanks for help. Dave

Dave
87 Std. Rig, Fixed Keel
Cheney Lake, Kansas
Kadazu

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2009 : 10:30:10

Oh boy. Almost as fun as the tow vehicle debate.

Dave, your answers will vary widely, depending on technique, speed, and equipment. I did mine last year with one and a quarter cans. Others have used as much as 4.

I would buy 2 cans to be safe.

My preferred technique is commonly known as the "Catsup Bottle Method" in which you pour the VC-17 into a bottle with stopper on it and only pour it out into the paint tray a tablespoon at a time. Basically enough to wet the roller, then work fast to spread it.

For a roller use the thin foam type that can be bought at west marine. For a tray use the smallest metal tray you can find.

Using this method puts a thin coating on the boat, but doesn't take long, and the paint did its job well for me.

Others will chime in with their methods/results shortly.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2009 : 14:02:36

I can't remember exactly how much VC17 I put on initially, but now I use 1 can for my seasonal overcoat which is enough to single coat the entire boat and double coat all leading edges, the rudder, and from the waterline down about a foot or so around the entire perimeter. For a new, clean bottom, I would expect to use more than one can though.

As Chris said, technique is everything. I use a small 4" wide foam roller, about the size of a small brat, and an equally small paint tray. I, too, only dribble a small amount into the tray just to wet my roller and never leave the can open (in the past, I've just poked a small hole in the lid, but this coming season, I'm going with the ketchup/dish soap bottle method Chris mentioned).

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sfsmith
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2009 : 14:23:07

I got the bottom ('89 wing keel) covered with a quart last spring using a 7-inch foam roller and plastic roller pan. Instead of doling out small amounts with a squeeze bottle, I put about half an inch in the pan at a time, but kept the pan covered with a flat piece of cardboard when I wasn't filling the roller. I used a piece of wood stapled onto the middle of the cardboard as a handle. The cardboard kept evaporation to a minimum. Kept the lid on the paint can, too. Having a bit more paint in the pan made the job go fast. The actual painting took less than an hour. Cleanup took much longer, of course. Everybody has their own method. Good luck.

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HeelinPatrick
Navigator

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USA
102 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2009 : 15:20:02

Just wondering, is there anything on the boat that *doesn't* get painted, or does anything underwater stand to get a coat?

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zumwaltd
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 08:52:25

Thanks for the help. Did anyone put a primer coat down first?
Dave

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 09:09:17

Patrick,

I painted everything.

The toughest thing is getting the paddlewheel covered such that it doesn't grow stuff, still spins freely, and isn't too far out of calibration.

Don't forget your rudder.

Put extra on "high wear" locations which include sharp edges, the leading edge of the keel and rudder, and wherever last year's paint got thinnest.

Wear gloves and a mask.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 09:11:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by zumwaltd
 Thanks for the help. Did anyone put a primer coat down first?
Dave
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My boat came with barrier coat on it and a previous coat of VC-17 (I had a good PO)

A recent thread included a discussion of prepping a hull to recieve VC. I believe the concensus was tha tit can go directly onto the fibreglass after a wipedown with acetone to remove wax. (I think that was here - may have been on another board)

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 11:00:38

Hi Dave, I thought you had ablative on your bottom. I will be at the club most of Friday and Saturday.

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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 17:14:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">The toughest thing is getting the paddlewheel covered such that it doesn't grow stuff, still spins freely, and isn't too far out of calibration.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
If by paddelwheel you are refering to the knotmeter transducer, I thought that it was not recommended to paint it with VC-17 because the copper in VC-17 will interfere with the magnetic operation of the transducer. I've never painted mine and I haven't had any trouble with alge growth, but maybe that's because I use the boat frequently (2-3 times /wk min) and I sail in fresh water.

Paint or not paint the transducer, what say the rest of ye?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 18:00:59

I don't paint my paddlewheel transducer either. If growth is a problem, it is simple enough to pull it out to clean it.

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zumwaltd
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 22:18:21

Frank, I did. The ablative is now dust in the wind. I have the boat at my home for the winter.

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Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2009 : 13:04:57

I use three quarts to get two full coats with extra coats on the water line. I put it on a little thicker than with the ketchup bottle method. I use a 7 inch foam roller, filling the pan a little at a time. Even so, three quarts is probably more than you need. I finished up the can putting a third and fourth coat on the water line. Last year, we went over the painted bottom with 600 grit sandpaper. Not sure if that made the boat faster.

Answering the second part of the question, if you buy a gallon in four quart cans, the extra cans will last until next year. If you buy a gallon can, I doubt that the extra will last long at all. The stuff is quite volatile.

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