Boat Hull Preparation for Painting

In the article titled Using Antifouling Bottom Paints, we discussed to the safe and considerate application of bottom paints. Correct hull preparation is essential to the effective application of these bottom paints. Consider following these guidelines for hull preparation, it will safe money, time, improve paint performance and help the environment.

Scraping and sanding of vessel hulls generates material that should be treated as a solid waste. An important consideration in disposal of paint solids is the presence of lead. Lead was used in older paints and is prohibited from disposal in landfills. Modern bottom paints will not contain lead. If you suspect the presence of lead in older paint, proper collection and testing is essential to protecting the environment. Lead contamination can lead to expensive cleanup bills.

Bottom paints by their very design are meant to be toxic. Follow any Manufacturer directions available for proper disposal of their product.

The following guidelines can help you do a better job of preparing your vessel's hull for painting:

Best Management Practices for Hull Scraping and Sanding

• Use dustless or vacuum sanders to remove paint and retain the sanding material
• Place tarps or filter cloth under the vessel to collect paint and scraping chips
• Paint removal should be done in an enclosed or sheltered structure or in a tarped enclosure to contain airborne debris and dust
• Avoid paint removal activities on windy days if an enclosed maintenance shelter is not available
• Use minimal abrasion when cleaning anti-fouling paints
• Collect all resulting trash, debris, paint chips, fiberglass, blast grit and residue from paint removal. Dispose of properly
• Paint residue and blast grit must not be disposed of in the trash, or construction materials dumpsters, unless tested by an approved laboratory and certified as not being lead based
• Avoid in-water bottom cleaning, hull scraping, or any other process occurring in the water that could remove antifouling paint and introduce it into the water

It pays to carefully prepare your boat hull for its annual bottom painting. Many boaters paint their hulls in preparation for winter storage. One hint, thoroughly clean your hull immediately after the boat is hauled. Marine growth will be much harder to remove after it dries onto the hull.

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