How to prepare the hull for the season
Start preparing the hull for the season with washing and an assessment of its condition, and only then choose the repair, the primer or the antifouling. A fresh layer should not cover up blisters, cracks or problems with the underwater fittings.
The shortest answer: wash the underwater body, look at the existing layers and the components below the waterline, repair the damage you find, and only then decide on further work. There is no single system that suits every hull and every previous coating.
Checklist before launching
- Wash the hull and mark the places with flaking, blisters, scratches or missing material.
- Check the anodes, the propeller, the through-hulls and the seacocks; note the parts that need further assessment.
- Establish what coating is on the hull and whether the product you plan to use is compatible with it.
- Prepare the substrate and apply the system according to the manufacturer's instructions, taking the application conditions into account.
What decides the further scope
Local damage may qualify for a local repair, but blisters, extensive delamination or moisture call for the cause to be established. The condition of the anodes and the seacocks is assessed separately: new antifouling does not replace checking that they work.
Mistakes and safety
- applying a new coating over loose or incompatible layers,
- skipping personal protection and ventilation when working with chemicals and sanding,
- painting without checking the temperature, humidity and drying times in the product instructions,
- treating a seacock that will not move as a purely cosmetic problem.
Useful guides
Next step: photograph the marked areas and establish the condition of the old coating before you buy materials.