Seahawk AF 33 ablative bottom paint

Irish eyes

Irish eyes

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Purchased last year a new to me a 2013 Grady White 209 Fisherman from a private sale that was maintained by the local Grady dealer. The seller had the boat detailed and bottom painted using Seahawks AF 33 ablative paint. Doing research for the up coming season and Seahawk AF 33 is a multi year hard ablative paint. I had the bottom power washed the end of last season. Have any members used this type of paint and skipped a season painting the bottom ? Boat bottom condition looks great with excepting of a few transom spots that would require touch up . Note the boat is on a mooring for the season in Plymouth Ma
 
I got 2 years out of ablative and in some cases 3 but there would be a slime line I'd have to clean. Was in Green Harbor Marshfield which has brackish water. Now in Boston Harbor and I have to paint each year.
 
Fishtales, did you power wash the hull end of seasons , and if so did you have bottom growth
 
As Fishtales descriebed, every AF works well in some place and insufficient in another place.
The best would be to ask around where you have the boat in the water for long time (more than approx 6 months)
For less than 6 months or if on a trailer the brand does not really matter as most AF will last for 6 months.
Giving the hull a scrub every few months or when you feel the surface slightly rough like sharkskin from baby barnacles.
Chris
 
Hi,

I am on Gloucester, MA. My boat is in a slip from mid-May to Mid-October. I back into my slip and bow is pointed pretty much West, so the stern gets morning sun, the port side is shaded by the dock and the starboard side gets late afternoon sun.

My bottom gets painted every two years with Seahawk multi-season ablative (don't know the exact paint, though). The bottom does not get pressured washed at the end of the season in the year it gets painted (I.e. if it was painted in Spring 2024, it wouldn't get pressure washed in the Fall of 2024).

I have no growth during the year it gets painted nor in the second season. I do get a little beard for about 10" on my starboard side (mid-ship) where the sun hits it all afternoon. I also get some growth on the trim tab actuators and engine bracket, because the stern gets a lot of morning sun.

Please keep in mind that I use my boat 3-5 times per week and I tend to run 30 knots+++, so the bottom is getting "swept" regularly.
 
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Fishtales said:
I got 2 years out of ablative and in some cases 3 but there would be a slime line I'd have to clean. Was in Green Harbor Marshfield which has brackish water. Now in Boston Harbor and I have to paint each year.
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Same here, 2 seasons, maybe three. I do paint the water line annually though as part of the touch up.
 
Irish eyes said:
Fishtales, did you power wash the hull end of seasons , and if so did you have bottom growth
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Yes, power wash with acid. No real growth south of Boston for 2 years in brackish water. In Boston Harbor, no to minor growth but I have to paint every year.
 
JJF said:
Hi,

I am on Gloucester, MA. My boat is in a slip from mid-May to Mid-October. I back into my slip and bow is pointed pretty much West, so the stern gets morning sun, the port side is shaded by the dock and the starboard side gets late afternoon sun.

My bottom gets painted every two years with Seahawk multi-season ablative (don't know the exact paint, though). The bottom does not get pressured washed at the end of the season in the year it gets painted (I.e. if it was painted in Spring 2024, it wouldn't get pressure washed in the Fall of 2024).

I have no growth during the year it gets painted nor in the second season. I do get a little beard for about 10" on my starboard side (mid-ship) where the sun hits it all afternoon. I also get some growth on the trim tab actuators and engine bracket, because the stern gets a lot of morning sun.

Please keep in mind that I use my boat 3-5 times per week and I tend to run 30 knots+++, so the bottom is getting "swept" regularly.
Click to expand...
I'll second this. I am south of Boston/Quincy.

I back into my slip, starboard side faces east and gets some sun...so the slim tends to grow on that side. I also use my boat quite often...4ish times per week and run 4+ hours each time so the bottom and gunwales get a good cleaning.

My trim tabs are painted but still tend to grow "plants" on them...I do my best to brush each time I'm down on the dock. My lower unit is not painted and grows all kinds of plants on it...I am constantly brushing this as well.

Skipping a season this year and painting next (it has 4 seasons of AF ablative Pettit Hydocoat) on it.

Good luck!
Ian
 
^^^part of my lower units are painted, so I don't have the growth issue.

One season, the yard missed painting them and I was dealing with constant scrubbing.
 
JJF said:
^^^part of my lower units are painted, so I don't have the growth issue.

One season, the yard missed painting them and I was dealing with constant scrubbing.
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Do parts of your LU sit in the water even after that are tilted all the way up?
 
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