Questions on paint over brand new hull

[azzurro]

Hi all, excuse my English.

Though I already have a SIB, I'm totally new with ribs.

These questions are probably solved in another thread, but the search hits too many posts.

I'm planning to purchase a brand new one. My boat will spend one month a year in the sea, so it's likely to get fouling (my sib does).

I've read that brand new hulls have a gelcoat paint and probably another external thin one made of parafine or wax or whatever.
Should I paint with primer paint the hull before using the new boat?
Do I have to remove the parafine coat? How?
Do I have to paint the whole hull (I mean, even the deck, or only the water exposed hull down the floats and transom)?

What about antifouling? Directly over the gelcoat, or is it always mandatory a primer coat? Two coats? How often?

Thanks for your help.

[Dry Run]

Hi,

To sucessfully anti-foul a new GRP hull you need to use masking tape to mark out the waterline (it is not necessary to anti-foul the whole of the boat only that part of the hull that is in contact with the water at rest). Then you need to lightly abraid the hull (sand paper) to provide a "key" for the paint. Once you have done that, you will need to prime the surface with an anti-foul primer ("Primacon" is a good primer). After leaving to dry (I believe 24hrs, but read the instructions) you can apply your anti-foul (make sure you buy one that is for fast boats not sailing yachts). Two coats shoul be enough for a season. If you redo it each year, you should only need to pressure wash the hull and apply a new top coat (no need to abraid or prime.

Regards

Steve

[azzurro]

Thanks Dry!

So always with new boats, on water exposed hull:
* Remove wax-parafin-whatever.
* Sandpaper gently the gel coat.
* Primer coat.


And each season (including first voyage):
* Wash hull.
* 2 thin antifoul coats, no primer.