Boating

The Boat Doctor

 QUICK STUDY

1966

Looking

Astern

Looki Looking L

PHOTOS: (COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) COURTESY PETTIT PAINT (3),

BOATING

ARCHIVES (1966 AD), COURTESY PETTIT PAINT, COURTESY WEST MARINE (TAPE)

DEWAX NO VOC: The mold-release

wax must be removed from new

hulls. Apply Pettit’s Bio-Blue Hull

Surface Prep 92 with a short-nap

roller to a 5-by-5-foot area. Scrub

with a Scotch-Brite pad, wipe with a

wet sponge to remove residue, and

rinse the sponge and surface often,

changing the rinse water often.

DEWAX VOC: Tried and true

solvents, such as Pettit’s Dewaxer

D-95, work too. Apply a wet coat in a

circular motion liberally and wipe dry

with a clean cloth. Change cloths of-

ten, lest you reapply the wax you just

Prepping Your Boat

for Bottom Paint

The steps to apply anti-fouling paint are different for brand-new boats, as

opposed to older boats needing a recoat, because new boats need the wax

used to free them from the mold removed. Harnessing our own experience

and expert input from Margo Hunt, support manager at Pettit Marine Paint

(pettitpaint.com), we created this new-boat primer for you. Know that the

process is the same regardless of the product brands you choose. The first tip

is to wear a respirator as well as protective eyewear, gloves and clothing when

performing these tasks. — John Tiger Jr.

removed. Clean at least four times to

ensure complete wax removal.

SANDING: After dewaxing, you

need to give the hull some “tooth.”

Sand the hull with 80-grit paper

until it looks dull and “frosty.”

Wipe with 120 Brushing Thinner to

remove sanding dust.

SKIP SANDING: Pettit’s 6998

Skip Sand Primer eliminates the

need to sand because it chemically

etches the hull. It’s ideal for use over

vinylester gelcoats where sanding

may void warranties. The typical

street price is $30 to $40 per quart.

INSURANCE: Some fi berglass/

resin matrices can absorb water

over time — often with disastrous

results. Consider applying a bar-

rier coating, such as Pettit Protect

4700/4701, if you wet-store your

boat to help avoid the problem.

BOTTOM COAT: If you applied

a barrier coating, apply an anti-

fouling coating of your choice while

the 4700/4701 is still tacky. If not,

apply the anti-fouling coating, fol-

lowing the directions on the can.

OLDER/PREVIOUSLY PAINTED

BOATS: If your previously painted

boat’s surface is in reasonable con-

dition, simply scrape and sand any

loose or fl aking areas and recoat,

following the manufacturer’s

directions on the can. For special

information about painting older

and previously painted boats, visit

boatingmag.com/recoat.

TAPE IT UP

Burnish tape

by rubbing its

edges with a tool

handle to create

a crisp line.

IN THIS AD FROM OUR APRIL 1966 ISSUE, THE SECOND CAN OF

paint from the right is Pettit Unepoxy, an anti-fouling

product line still made today. Of course, Pettit has evolved;

1966 Unepoxy contained tin, while today’s version utilizes

copper. In fact, Pettit offers anti-fouling coatings without

any heavy metals at all. — Kevin Falvey

44 BOATINGMAG.COM APRIL 2016