Level 3 Heavy-Duty Bottom Prep

Service Description

When layers of old antifouling paint begin to flake, crater, or fail, or when a hull has accumulated heavy marine growth and hard barnacles, light scuffing is no longer effective. Bottom Prep Level 3 is a heavy-duty bottom prep service designed for vessels that need extensive mechanical intervention to remove failing paint layers and prepare the substrate for a completely fresh antifouling application. We approach the hull with aggressive, methodical mechanical effort. Technicians start with heavy-duty cleaning and aggressive scraping to physically detach hard barnacles and thick marine growth. Once the heavy organic material is cleared, we introduce heavy-duty mechanical sanders equipped with dust control measures to cut through the cratered, flaking layers of old paint. We level the surface, removing the compromised coatings until we achieve a smooth, properly keyed foundation necessary for strong new paint adhesion. Success means the heavy fouling is gone, the flaking paint is leveled, and your hull is perfectly prepared to accept a new bottom paint system. However, if your hull has decades of excessive, hardened paint buildup that sanding cannot efficiently level, or if you are transitioning to an entirely new coating system (like an epoxy barrier coat) that requires a completely bare gelcoat surface, Level 3 is no longer sufficient. At that point, the vessel requires an honest handoff to the precision stripping of Bottom Prep Level 4. FAQ Section • Does this service strip the hull down to bare gelcoat? No. Level 3 aggressively sands away flaking paint and heavy fouling to level the surface, but it does not remove all coatings down to the bare fiberglass. Complete removal requires the laser stripping of Bottom Prep Level 4. • Do you apply the new bottom paint after sanding? No. This service focuses entirely on the extensive surface preparation required. The actual application of the new coating is booked separately under our Antifouling Application service. • How long does a Bottom Prep Level 3 take? It requires a minimum of 4 hours for an average 30-foot boat. Time varies significantly based on the severity of the fouling, paint buildup, and the condition of the hull.