SUBJECT: # 25067: Sandless Primer

Submitted by Rocky (152.163.188.69) from MASSACHUSETTS on 3/8/2003 9:32:00 PM

Has anyone formed an opinion or does anyone have any actual experience with sandless primer on a new hull? I have read that it doesn't work very well and will "alligator" after a couple of years requiring the hull to be stripped and repainted! I find it hard to believe that a major paint maker like Pettit would put out a product which doesn't work. I am also wondering about the new slime blockers anyone try them yet? And while we're at it, how do the multi-season ablative paints hold up when the bottom is pressure washed at haulout?? Won't most of it come off??

1. 3/9/2003 2:58:00 AM Submitted by Dunk from NJ says Sandless Primers.
   I think they work great and I've never had problem with them. What most don't put enough effort into is getting the mold release wax off the hull. Before the gelcoat is sprayed into the mold a surfacing agent(wax) is applied to the inside of the mold so that the hull will come loose after it's set up. To remove it you need lot and lots of clean rags(I'm talking go buy 50lbs of rags) and plenty of Acetone. You wipe only in one direction with a clean rag soaked in acetone. You actually push the wax towards the stern of the boat using only the clean side of the rag. Changing the rags all the time. You need to do this at least 3 times over the entire hull.After that the sandless primer works great.

   I've been using Pettit Trinidad for 25 years from the Fl keys to Jersey and I've never had a slime problem. The only reason I could see where slime would be a problem is if you don't use the boat much. I've never used more than one coat of Trinidad and I get 3 years out of the one coat. By that time it's just about worn off. I can tell you that story they give you about hard epoxy bottom paints loosing their punch after it sit out of the water for more than 60 days is absolute BS.. People are talked into buying or having way too much bottom paint applied to their boats. Year after year this causes it to build up, but don't worry marinas are standing ready to remove it for you and start you back down the same road again with 2-3 coats a year.

   Heavy copper loaded(65-75%) epoxy bottom paints like Trinidad need to be mixed very throughly and then constanly while it's being applied. Even the paint laying in the roller paint tray needs the roller pushed through it several times each time you need to reload the roller. I usually only put enough in the tray to load the roller 2-3 times so it's easy to keep it mixed. The paint in the can needs to be stirred each time before you add more to the roller tray. This need to be done if you want an even load of copper in the paint.

   Personally I don't like the soft ablative paints. In this enviromentaly correct world we live in I don't see how the stuff is even on the market. They tell you 2-3 and even 4 coats of the stuff is needed so that it can wash off exposing fresh copper to keep foulants from growing. Why not just use one good coat of hard epoxy paint that will live 2-3 years??

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2. 3/11/2003 10:54:00 PM Submitted by will (67.249.137.223) from NJ says No problems here
   I used the pettit sandless primer when I did my new boat last year. The stuff worked great. I used Dunk's procedure for removing the mold release wax. And haven't lost any paint after pressure washing it. Make sure you read the directions on the sandless primer. I'm pretty sure you have to paint over it in a certain timeframe, when it's still tacky.

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3. 9/22/2003 8:10:00 AM Submitted by Art (208.58.243.151) from NJ says Sunbird manuel
   Have a 1988 Sunbird 17 foot with Johnson 88 hp motor and would like to purchase a manuel for the boat. Would appreciate any help or leads.

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4. 9/4/2007 1:52:00 AM Submitted by Raymond (66.57.53.192) from NC says Water in fuel tanks
   I had my carbs overhauled and mu mechanics said I have too much water in my tanks. He said it was real expensive to remove tanks and drain tanks. He said it was difficult because the tanks have baffles which hard to drain the water. He suggest that I use external tanks to run the boat.

   Any suggestions on hold to remove water or drain tanks.

   Thank you in advance. Raymond

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