Bitumen Paint on Keel

[DavidGrieves]

Hi All

I was talking to a boat owner a while ago and he was telling me he uses bitumen paint on his cast iron keel. I've googled around trying to find some info. I have found some reference to old wooden boats having bitumen on the bottom but not much info. Does anybody do this and how do you then antifoul over it? What primer do you use? Will primocon adhere to the bitumen?

Cheers

David

 

[peteK]

Just done my cast iron keels with bitumen paint with several coats, previous bitumen lasted 10 years.Primocon barrier coat then antifoul.

 

[macd]

Just to confuse the issue, there's a International barrier-coat product called VC-Tar, which I believe used to contain bitumen, but hasn't for many years. It's now a 2-pack epoxy, although just as black as it once was.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Just to confuse the issue, there's a International barrier-coat product called VC-Tar, which I believe used to contain bitumen, but hasn't for many years. It's now a 2-pack epoxy, although just as black as it once was.

I think you will find that to be Epoxy tar. I have used Epoxy tar on the bottom of my steel boat with antifoul straight on top.

I grit blast then Epoxy primer soon after then several coats of epoxy tar after words. No problem with peeling or rust after being afloat over 5 years year round.

 

[Jim@sea]

Its common practice in France on Canal Boats.

 

[macd]

I think you will find that to be Epoxy tar.

I think you'll find it's no such thing. As said, there is no tar in VC Tar (although there could be in a very old version of same).

 

[alahol2]

Our club uses bitumen paint every year on the steel plated mooring barge (outside). Red lead (or the current equivalent) on the inside. Seems to keep the rust away for quite a while.