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.
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.