Tomcat 255 bottom paint

W

Westie

New member
He there - happy new year!

My Tomcat needs some bottom paint pretty bad. I have no experience and was planning to have a local shop do this. I have a bunch of crew that want to help so I’m now considering doing this myself.

It’s ablative paint and there are a few small bare spots. Any advice? Is this a job we should not attempt to tackle?
 
IF this is just touching up some spots, or even putting on an additional coat of the same brand of paint, you can do this yourselves if you know how to block up your boat safely. With most ablative paints, make sure the bottom is clean and dry; do a light sanding, then apply a couple coats of the paint, giving a bit extra in the bare spots and the water line (use a good paint tape to get a clean line).

If the bottom hasn't been painted before, you should think about putting a couple coats of an epoxy barrier before applying a compatible bottom paint.

There may be considerations about the best type of paint to use, depending on your location; whether or not the boat will also be put up on a trailer (some bottom paints lose their effectiveness when out of the water).

If you are unsure about any of this, turn it over to a boat yard you trust.
 
From your post it appears that the boat has an ablative paint. You are best served using the same paint. You cannot use a hard or epoxy paint over the ablative. You can use most other ablative paints over another ablative paint.

For touchup, you can probably use one coat of paint.--but I would paint the entire bottom. If you don't know what paint was there, one of the good ablatives which works well in your waters would be best. In Calif. you may be limited as to what paints are allowed. Check to see what other boats in Bodega Bay are using.


We use Vivid by Pettit, although semi ablative, it is a hybrid and can only be applied over hard paints or as a new coat. It works very well on trailered boats. It is in several colors. We like to put on one coat of the final color, a second coat of different color and then the final coat. (ie blue, black, blue) This way, when the outer color coat wears thru, you will see the under coat, and then time to repaint. I get 3 to 5 years on a boat which is part of the year in the water, and part on a trailer or on the lift.


There is the question of lifting the Tom Cat under the bridge deck. We have always lifted the hulls separately, using jack stands and 4 jacks, and not done the one jack under the deck I prefer to have at least one block or solid cribbing under the stern area and forward. The Tom Cat is harder to get off the trailers Have had, since there are full length bunks. We did ours by launching the boat and then having the travel lift put the boat on blocks. The blocks have to be moved during painting, or put the touch up paint where the blocks were just before the boat is picked up for launch by a travel lift. Others may have used different techniques.
 
Thanks - I've decided that we can paint this ourselves. Does anyone have a recommendation on which paint to go with?

I need ablative paint. There are a new brands on Amazon that I have looked at but thought I'd ask for a recommendation before selecting one.
 
I used Pettit ECO over the old ablative. I did a lot of checking before hand & from the literature & reviews it is the safest bottom paint to work while still giving good protection. I’ve had it on now for two years with one extended trip to SE Alaska. It’s smooth hardness saved me from bottom damage while on the Yukon River. I’m very satisfied with ease & safety of application & its performance thus far. This is a link to Pettit’s description of its Hydrocoat Eco paint.
http://www.pettitpaint.com/products/ant ... ocoat-eco/
 
Westie,
Pettit Hydrocoat is one of the few water based ablatives safe for a non-pro to use in your driveway. If you only have outside hull wear (like me) you may not need to worry about blocking and covering every inch yet.
HC SR is good for hulls, but only use HC ECO (no metal in it) on the aluminum bracket. Prep per Bob and can instructions.
Call Pettit rep at Jamestown Distributors for advice, they generally claim it can be used over ANY other ablative, not just theirs.
Repeating, NO metal containing paints on aluminum brackets or outdrives.
This is so easy I don't mind doing it every year if needed. The underside of the bridgedeck still looks new (where no sunshine exposure).
The wear areas scraping the trailer may get some growth... which is scraped off again each time you trailer.
$20/gal off sale usually about this time.
Give it a try, esp since you have help, and if it doesn't work well, let the pro do it for $150/ft.
Good luck!!
John
 
I've had really good luck with Interlux Micron 66. I'm not sure if its California legal with the high copper content and biocide, but if it is I would consider it. It has excellent anti-fouling properties. You can do it yourself, I use a 3m respirator dust mask, goggles and the painters head sock. Sand it down with 80 grit, wipe clean or pressure wash the dust and wait until dry. I do two coats.
 
gulfcoast john":1yjzar4f said:
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$20/gal off sale usually about this time.

John
Click to expand...

John - I'm seeing this for $210/gal. Was that a typo or am I looking at the wrong product?

Also, how many gallon will I need of the SR for the hulls?
 
Hi Westie!

I meant a Pettit rebate of $20/gal off the usual $150-$220/gal cost, not that you can get this or any decent bottompaint for $20/gal. That rebate program has been every year for the past 4 years in the late Feb-early Mar timeframe. But if your pet is a TomCat, you know that $40 is just a small snack for it.

Plain Pettit Hydrocoat (without the expensive slime-fighting Irgarol in HC SR/slime-reduction version) is $149 vs $200-$220. 1-2 gal should be good for 3 coats on the easily accessible parts of TC255 hulls. A 3-4 inch roller is amazingly fast. See Jamestown Distributors web site for details. Scotch Blue Tape above the paint line. 1-2 qts of HC ECO (no metals) will do the bracket. Don't paint anodes, remove them and tape over the bolt holes for good electrical contact with anodes.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/pettit-p ... ecordNum=1

This gallon is 40% copper and VERY heavy so free shipping is critical.
It's way too heavy for a paint store shaker, so buy empty gal paint cans to mix in with a drill 5g stirrer.
My marina water gets up to 92-95 degrees, and yellow slime is an issue here...prob not for you, so Pettit HC plain may work fine for you.

I too like Micron 66 but it's toxic, not water soluble, haz-mat disposal costs and not for for-professionals. Pettit HC trash is all OK for regular trash, unlike most all competition.

PS I'll be at the Hontoon Gathering and blabbing on 'The Pro's and Con's of the TC255 at 5 years of ownership'. If you or any other owners have any input on that, PM me and I'll give it with credit to you.
Cheers!
John
 
Pettit Hydrocoat SR for me. I've been very pleased. Came with used Tomcat from Pacific waters (Bodega Bay and Newport) and now used on inland lakes, Mississippi river, and soon Florida

Water based, smooth surface, durable, with very easy touch-up, not to mention zero 'growth'.
 
The boats out and sanded down...wow that was a chore! We plan to paint next weekend. The side that gets the sun was pretty bad but I think we got it out in time. I don't see any damage to the base grey paint and no chips...but lots of sanding.

Today I detailed all the hatches. Feels great to have them looking like new! That back battery area is so poorly designed. I need to figure out a better way to keep it sealed.

Thanks again for all the advice.
 
Westie":3f868s2o said:
The boats out and sanded down...wow that was a chore! We plan to paint next weekend. The side that gets the sun was pretty bad but I think we got it out in time. I don't see any damage to the base grey paint and no chips...but lots of sanding.

Today I detailed all the hatches. Feels great to have them looking like new! That back battery area is so poorly designed. I need to figure out a better way to keep it sealed.
Thanks again for all the advice.
Click to expand...

Nice! That must be a good feeling. I'm gonna be touching up my bottom paint next month. I had a fresh coat put on last August.
 
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