www.iFourWinns.com

Hello all,

I’ve heard from several people that bottom paint should stop short of the transom shield to help prevent any electrical current being transmitted between the paint and the outdrive. I heard yesterday from a bottom painting service that stopping short of the shield was due to the nature of older generation paints and the new paints do not pose an issue if it contacts the outdrive. He added that it leaves the exposed 1” of gelcoat around the shield open to blistering. Any opinions on which is right? Not sure if I should trust this guy but I don’t know enough to decide.

By the way he’s asking $80/lf to sand off the ablative layer of paint and repaint. Other prices in the area were $100 - $160/lf. Just FYI

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2000 Horizon 230

Just bottom painted mine and left the gap as directed on my antifoul instruction sheet. Most of the boats in my Marina are bottom painted and most leave the gap. Really can't see much blistering occurring in a 1" gap. Just my oppinion.

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Regards
Beyond the Blue

"If we improve with age I'm now excellent"


Ex 1998 238 Vista 5.0Gi SX DP
Lexus RX300

It depends on the type of bottom paint being used. If it is one that is safe to use on aluminium ( those not containing copper, but using copper salts), then it isn't really needed. If the paint being used is not safe to use on Aluminium, then the gap is required. Bottom paint doesn't protect against gel coat blistering in any case, so all that will happen in the gap is some marine growth.

Graham

Thanks for the responses.

I'm debating whether or not I need to repaint this year or not. I have two layers of bottom paint, an epoxy barrier coat and an ablative anti-fouling paint. The latter is chipped/worn here and there but is not in that bad of shape. Since we use the boat frequently during the summer, I'm not that concerened about any marine growth. Blistering is my main concern and if I'm thinking correctly, the grey epoxy barrier coat that I see underneath the anti-fouling paint is what protects the boat from that. Hopefully I can stretch it out another year before repainting with anti-fouling.

Thanks again.

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2000 Horizon 230