barrier coat and hard paint

[fireblade274]

I have an old 1967 cal 28 and im coming up on my second season. Im not impressed with the ablative i put on it last season so im putting on some trinidad pro hard paint, i get it at a good deal since my boss has a pro account at west marine. My plan is to completely sand down to fiberglass (last i checked i had zero blisters) and apply my the hard paint. My question is, since its a modified epoxy (and top of the line at that) do you think i can get away with 3 coats of that and not have to re apply barrier coat beforehand? again, i believe im good on the blister front.

under the paint data sheet here http://www.pettitpaint.com/media/4430/trinidad-pro-product-data-sheet.pdf
there are instructions for applying on both bare fiberglass and over pettet protect barrier coat.

Obviously, barrier coat is going to apply more protection used in conjunction with any type of bottom paint. But im looking for some old salts' advice on my situation. The boat is 53 years old. Built like a tank, and winter 2018 i heavily sanded down a layer or two of paint and noticed not one blister. its not my forever boat, maybe 4 more years ill have her. I have no issue buying *the best* hard paint, but if i can get away with forgoing an extra layer of protection i will

 

[Scott Danforth]

the barrier coat is the most important coat prior to the paint.

 

[Chris1956]

I would not think ablative paint is correct for a slow sailboat, as it moves too slow to wear away the paint. Don't sailboats generally use soft A-F paint?

I also agree with Scott. The age of the sailboat has nothing to do with it. Your hull is likely polyester, and can blister. I would tough up the barrier coat wherever it needs it, and apply a typical sailboat A-F paint.