Primers below the waterline

[dcobbett]

Trying to finish the outside of my new transom and I am almost done with fairing. My plan is to paint with a product like Interlux, but their primers are not recommended for below the waterline. My boat will be moored and the bottom will be painted with anti fouling. Other than AwlGrip, are there other primers that are O.K. below the waterline, or should I just use a couple of coats of epoxy directly over the transom and call it a day?
[image][/image]

[warthog5]

Your going to wipe that whole transom again. Right?
It's not ready for primer in that pix. Wipe the WHOLE thing!

Interlux has Interlux Interprotect 2000E/2001E Epoxy Primer

[dcobbett]

warthog5,
Thanks for the information. I looked at that product as more of a bottom treatment for blisters, etc., than a primer.

Didn't mean to alarm anyone with the photo; it was taken right after an initial scrub/pass with a long board and an electric DA and before anything had been washed down.

I was trying out different fairing products. The sides are Quikfair and the center section is epoxy mixed with microballons, cabosil and wood flour. They both seem to work pretty well, and I've since washed everything down and applied a second coat to the entire area.

[warthog5]

Good deal. The older Quik fair was purple like the center section. They changed the color a while back to make it easier to cover with primer.

[thehermit]

dcobbett,
How did the painting go? Did you look at the interlux epoxy barrier coat? Intrested to see what you went with.
TH

[dcobbett]

TheHermit,
Sorry to say I haven't got there yet! I did buy the Interlux 2000e and talked to a couple of people that have used it. Both said it's a 2 or 3 coat process to get the recommended minimum build-up thickness, and the stuff is very toxic and stinks like h***. Instructions on the can recommend application at > 50^, and I will probably have to tent the transom and add some temporary heat (light bulbs, etc.) to get that at this time of the year. Don't like the thoughts of using a very toxic product in a tented area, so my fall back plan may be to a coat of tinted MAS slow epoxy (no blush), then get back at it with the primer in the spring (MAS says you can tint there stuff with artist's acrylic paint).

[thehermit]

dcobbet,
Ah yes the stuff is toxic. I used its 'above the water line' counterpart on the deck of my skiff. On a clear day a couple of years ago it stunk so bad the neighbor came over just to make sure I was OK when he saw me painting. Looking back a resporator would have been nice but the boat was uncovered and open. I am sanding off bottom paint now on my 20 and there is a barrier coat under the paint (also coming off with sander). I will likely (re) prime the bare bottom with this product so let me know how it works out for ya.
TH