Special bottom paint

[taylors204]

I am considering the purchase of a 1989 Catalina 34.  It has been in fresh water all its life and the bottom is like glass.  When I inquired about antifoul bottom paint I was told that it didn't require any.  The original owner had purchased a "special" factory applied bottom coating that only needed power washing, even in salt water.  I have never heard or read of such a thing and it sounds too good to be true.  Any information or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

[Jkar]

John,

He might have had the bottom epoxied and that is what he is calling the "special" factory bottom.  Mine is epoxied and I coat it with VC-17 extra which is a thin anti-fouling paint that doesn't build up.  While I don't need to scape and sand every year, I still have to paint every year.  In the fall, I haul it, powerwash let it dry, paint and it is good for another year.  You don't even need to powerwash it.  A simple soap, water and brush will get the slime off.  Powerwash is just faster.  You can tell a bottom that is epoxied with VC on it.  When the paint has been in the water a week or so it is gray, when it is fresh it looks like a shiny penny.  Hope this helps, and as Stu said if it is "some magical" bottom, we would all be interested.