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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Bottom health

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booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/23/2010 : 23:12:43

My new (to me) C250 spent 10 years (summers only) in a fresh water res in Colorado. I plan to keep her in a fresh water lake here in Kansas now. The bottom looks great to me, no blisters or damage that I can tell. Would it be wise to bottom paint prior to spring or can I safely sail her next year based on the bottom looking good. The bottom has never been painted.

I've never owned a boat before so I don't have complete confidence in my analysis.

Basically are there well known rules that I just haven't learned yet like bottom paint after X years no matter the condition, etc...

I've been reading these forums nonstop for answers but this has so far eluded me.

Much thanks!

Will Osborn
2000 C250 WK #478

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2010 : 05:31:14

Welcome aboard, Will!

Whether you can get away without antifouling paint depends on where you sail the boat. There are generally two concerns - barnacles in salt water and algae or slime in either fresh or salt water. Algae can form in any water, but it becomes more of a problem where the conditions encourage its growth. Algae grows rapidly where the water is warmer, dirtier, and stagnant. In the lake in Colorado, the water might have been cooler, cleaner, and more rapidly moving, which would have made it easier to keep it scrubbed and clean during the summer months. However, in Kansas, the water might be warmer, and the run-off from a heavy rain might fill the lake with manure from cattle, which would feed algae like fertilizer. I've never heard of any economically practicable way you can test the waters to determine the conditions of the water for the development of slime. Also, if you are able to haul the boat out frequently, and scrub or pressure wash the bottom, it helps prevent the accumulation of algae. I would suggest you inquire as to how other boaters (who keep their boats in the water year around) on the Kansas lake deal with the problem. If in doubt, I'd use antifouling paint.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 10/24/2010 10:28:54

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2010 : 08:13:37

Will, I have a '95 WB 250 the bottom has never been painted on either. I know of a couple more also. I do get minor algae buildup here in upstate New York, but boat is in water from May-September. When cleaned up at end of season it looks brand new.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2010 : 08:17:01

Like Steve said the best bet is to ask other boaters in your area. There are quite a few boats in our club that do not use bottom paint in our low fouling lake with a 6 month season. Doing away with the chore (and back ache) of bottom painting would be a good thing.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 10/24/2010 08:23:12

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2010 : 09:13:41

The bottom of my boat was painted early in '09. This summer after noticing more than a little algae growth I paid a teenage lad to get into the water and scrub any growth off of the hull and keel. We hauled the boat the first of this month. The bottom had no trace of algae. I'll definitely hire this lad or another to scrub the bottom each summer.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2010 : 10:50:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by superbob
 The bottom of my boat was painted early in '09. This summer after noticing more than a little algae growth I paid a teenage lad to get into the water and scrub any growth off of the hull and keel. We hauled the boat the first of this month. The bottom had no trace of algae. I'll definitely hire this lad or another to scrub the bottom each summer.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Make sure you have plenty of liability coverage. You may prefer to consider someone who is certified to do that kind of work, or at least has a long track record of doing that kind of work for others. Tragedy can happen to someone who goes under your boat without proper training or experience.

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2010 : 10:31:17

I take my Cat250WK toward a gently sloping beach until the keel just touches the bottom. Then I use a telescoping handle soft bristle brush to clean slime off the bottom while standing in waist deep water.

When the water is cold I have used the same brush with a small float attached near the brush end while laying on a low floating dock. Working from the water is easy. Working from the dock is very tiring.

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booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2010 : 18:08:12

I'm a diver so maybe I'll get some additional opportunities to get in the water with a brush :) I'll check with the other boaters in the area too. Thanks for the great info!

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.