As spring approaches, with the sun shining and weather warming up, it is time to start thinking about our getting our boats in the water. But before you splash your boat in the water for the season, think about what she has on her bottom. Your paint choice will help to keep her clean through the season and hopefully smooth allowing your boat to travel fast while under sail.

One paint that is widely used for racing sailboats is VC Offshore, with a healthy amount of thinner added to the mix. Once the bottom is sanded, prepped, washed and dried you are ready for the paint. First, you want to thin the paint out with paint thinner. As you apply the paint with a brush or roller, it dries very quickly, which allows you to apply multiple coats without waiting hours for the paint to dry. Because we like to thin out the paint, 5 to 6 applications should be sufficient. It is recommended that you use 2 to 3, but that is without adding thinner to the mix. The bottom can be finished by wet sanding for an exceptionally smooth finish.

Another option for your bottom is to use the environmentally friendly, copper-free, antifouling bottom paint called E Paint 2000. This would be an easy green option for those that have a clean slate to paint on, as it is not compatible with other existing antifouling paint. It is recommended that you prime with the EP 2000 primer to protect the fiberglass from water and blistering. It seems to work well and now that copper prices have gone up, the price doesn’t look so bad either. The manufacturer says not to apply the paint in temps below 60° F so it looks like until the weather warms up some more, bottom painting will have to take a backseat to your other boat projects for now.