Your opinion about barrier coat

P

Portland

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exMember
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
RO Number
27111
Messages
36
I have a 1989 Regal Ambassador that has never had bottom paint. The hull is in great shape - no blisters after being in fresh water for 12 months I have owned the boat. Since I plan to keep the boat in the water, I am having the bottom painted with ablative paint. How important is the barrier coat? Am I taking a big risk if I don't use using a barrier coat before bottom painting?
 
my only comment is to do it the right way - our Regal has been in saltwater since 1986. It was done correctly and professionally the first time and we have never regretted it and thanked the original owner profusely!
 
More important is not agressivly sanding before painting.
 
use a barrier coat and make sure it is a different color than the gel coat and the color you are going to paint the bottom. this will give you an indicator going forward when you are sanding as to how deep you are going.
 
What makes barrier coat less porous than gel coat ?
 
definitely go with a barrier coat. It may delay the finished product, but the protection is well worth it.
 
Do it right and get the barrier coat, make sure they do exactly what the instructions say, if there is to much time allowed between barrier coat application and bottom coat application it will peal.
 
If epoxy makes barrier coat less porous than gel coat; why don't boat manufacturers use epoxy on their hulls below the water line ?
 
Regal does on the larger boats since they anticipate them saying in the water mostly.
 
Thanks for all your input! As usual - great info from fellow Regal owners.
 
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