Hull Paint

[homerjack]

I bought my 88 C-22 used so don't know the bottom paint history. I keep her in salt water mooring here in AK all year. Last time I pulled her out, bottom was covered in barnacles that I scraped off. I am planning to bottom paint. Not sure about the epoxy barrier paint issue. What did these boats leave the factory with? Mine is a very good condition blue painted surface. Is this bare gelcoat or was it painted at factory? Do I need to apply any epoxy before sanding and using antifouling ablative?

 

[thataway]

Most boats were not epoxy coated at the factory. Although I always epoxy coat my boats--they are in warm water. In the PNW you are probably fine, with just putting a similar type of bottom paint back on. See if it will easily slough off. It it does, then probably an ablative paint, and you can apply only an ablative paint on it. Since you had barnacles on it, I suspect it was a hard paint, and you can use either a hard or soft paint. See what other boats are using in the area.