Bottom paint help

[rb437]

Ok so here's the deal. I have a choice between another season of sharing a boat ramp with a bunch of inexperienced, inconsiderate neighbors or I can rent a slip within walking distance from my home for $210.00 for the season. If I use the slip I need to paint the bottom. The bottom has never been painted before. I know some of you will cringe at the idea that I'm considering painting the boat, but that's what I'm considering. My questions are how should I paint a previously unpainted boat (sanding, priming?), and what kind of paint to use. I've done a little research but am a little confused by all the different kinds of paint. The boat would be in the brackish water of the mid Chesapeake Bay and be used weekly or at least 2-3 times per month. Winters will still be on the trailer. What do you guys think?

Happy Easter

[tsubaki]

Do read (basically everything) each can.
Best as I remember some dosen't do well out of contact with the water.
Some may be more suited to in and of the water like your describing.
Seems that certain ones want the hull to be sanded with 40 while others just want a deglossing to stick.
Redid a skiff a couple of weeks ago and found that barnicals attached to certain paints as did moss.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/002-6.jpg
They removed easily, it was like a film had grown over to allow them to attach.
Weigh out the need for checking the boat so often and keeping batteries up for the bilge amongst the other things to have to worry about a boat being docked for a duration.
I've found here it takes about 14 days for small barnicals to start, if I use the boat frequently they din't seem to have a chance to take hold on an unpainted hull. Although I know they will.

[tsubaki]

Careful about painting the foot, transducer or anything else.
Certain ones will eat (corrode) certain materials.
Read the active ingrediants and %, there might be some light shed there.
Like generic and name brand drugs, they may have the same composition at different prices.

[randlemanboater]

I know several folks on here leave their boats in the water, but I couldn't stand it. If I leave mine in overnight I can't sleep.

Worrying about checking the lines daily, keeping the battery charged so the bilge pump works and the boat doesn't sink, water seeping into the transom through an unsealed screw or bolt hole, corrosion, oh the corrosion.......

Maybe you could get the slip and still use the trailer on weeks when you wont be using the boat as much. That would make me feel better.

[rb437]

I know several folks on here leave their boats in the water, but I couldn't stand it. If I leave mine in overnight I can't sleep.

Worrying about checking the lines daily, keeping the battery charged so the bilge pump works and the boat doesn't sink, water seeping into the transom through an unsealed screw or bolt hole, corrosion, oh the corrosion.......

Maybe you could get the slip and still use the trailer on weeks when you wont be using the boat as much. That would make me feel better.

I hear ya. The slip I'm getting is available through the community and they are limited in number. If they find that your boat is not in the slip at least 1/2 the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day then you risk losing the slip. I do intend to put the boat back on the trailer when I know I won't be using it for awhile or if the weather is going to be bad so paint that can stand to be in and out of the water is what I need.

Careful about painting the foot, transducer or anything else.
Certain ones will eat (corrode) certain materials.
Read the active ingrediants and %, there might be some light shed there.
Like generic and name brand drugs, they may have the same composition at different prices.

I want the cheapest that works.

[Airslot]

Go to Petits website and use the paint selector. Hydrocoat is about 120 a gallon.

[Hammerhead]

Unless ya know you're gonna leave it alone for more than a month I'd suggest ya NOT paint it. Rather,...make it a point to wipe the bottom off while off on a jaunt. Mask, snorkel, gloves, safety rope, ..........spear gun for hungry sharks....( jk on the last one )

[garagenc]

I have one boat I keep in the water all summer and I have brackish water here also. I run the boat every couple of weeks and then once every 2-3 months I clean the hull (in the water) with toilet bowl cleaner (any cheap one will do). Just don't get it on any stickers because it will remove the shine from the stickers. I had a buddy that had a SEAPRO and he called them to ask what to clean the hull with and they recommended Toilet bowl cleaner.

It does a really good job, I've been using it for 5 years now. I use it on a aluminum boat I have also.

[bcmarinamanager]

I'm on a brackish water creek at my marina too. Mine had already been painted when I bought it, but a light sanding is usually enough for new bottoms to take paint. I wouldn't worry about keeping it in the water as far as sinking or anything. Unless you have storms everyday, you shouldn't worry about sinking, and you SHOULD already know if you have a leak in the boat anyway. The only worry to have is theft. Don't leave anything of value on the boat...especially the keys (duh). Also, I don't know of any bottom paint that will affect transducers. However, you will need a special spray paint for the lower unit, or a special primer for use with regular bottom paint. (if it doesn't come out of the water all the way) Also used on the engine mount. As for the kind or brand of paint, I use the cheapest ablative I can find, either West Marine brand or Boaters World brand. You might need three quarts for a first time application, I use a little more than a quart and a half to do two coats on mine. If you use the boat as much as you say, then you might could get by with only painting it every other year like me :) . And if you are really concerned about you rbilge pump running down your battery, you can just plug in a trickle charger at the dock. Most wet slips usually have a shore power connection. I personally LOVE having mine in the water. Whenever I get the urge to get on the water all I have to do is jump in and hall a#! It is great! And one more thing about dock lines, all you need is four lines and you're golden. A bow and stern line and a forward and aft spring. If the cleats are secure it won't go anywhere. Just remember yachts do it everynight and they weigh a helluva lot more than we do. Don't woory about the corrosioneither, if everything on your boat is bonded right your zincs will handle that. Not to mention that price is PHENOMINAL!!!!!!!!! NOTE: This picture is when my bottom was two years old! No barnacles, just creek scum.

[Stillrunning]

Thats a great deal to have a place to keep your boat. I don't know if you have ever had the experience of having a boat in the water ready to use when ever you want but its great. Nothing better than coming home after a long days work packing up a few bears and going for a ride or little fishing. Maybe an after dinner cruise as the sun is setting on a warm summers night. Its just great and I miss so much not living on the water. Paint the boat and you can buy matching spray paint for the areas of the engine (like where it mounts to the boat) to prevent barnicals and enjoy it.

[Bygracealone]

I have one boat I keep in the water all summer and I have brackish water here also. I run the boat every couple of weeks and then once every 2-3 months I clean the hull (in the water) with toilet bowl cleaner (any cheap one will do). Just don't get it on any stickers because it will remove the shine from the stickers. I had a buddy that had a SEAPRO and he called them to ask what to clean the hull with and they recommended Toilet bowl cleaner.

It does a really good job, I've been using it for 5 years now. I use it on a aluminum boat I have also.

Garage, what do you mean when you say you clean the boat with toilet cleaner while in the water? I can't picture this...

[rambilt]

Ok so here's the deal. I have a choice between another season of sharing a boat ramp with a bunch of inexperienced, inconsiderate neighbors or I can rent a slip within walking distance from my home for $210.00 for the season. If I use the slip I need to paint the bottom. The bottom has never been painted before. I know some of you will cringe at the idea that I'm considering painting the boat, but that's what I'm considering. My questions are how should I paint a previously unpainted boat (sanding, priming?), and what kind of paint to use. I've done a little research but am a little confused by all the different kinds of paint. The boat would be in the brackish water of the mid Chesapeake Bay and be used weekly or at least 2-3 times per month. Winters will still be on the trailer. What do you guys think?

Happy Easter


Sorry for my ignorance, but why do you have to have the bottom of your boat painted to use a slip? I'm in the market for a boat and I normally shy away from the bottom painted boat even though it looks nice and priced right. Could someone please explain. Thanks.

[spareparts]

if you are in salt or brackish, the growth on the bottom of your boat has to be controlled by bottom paint( has biocides adn is ablative for the growth to fall off). Fresh water isn't as bad, but it still grow on it if left alone long enough. Down here, in the summer time, even with good paint, the divers clean the hulls every three weeks to keep a boat ready for use, go one or two weeks too long, and it won't even get on plane.

[rb437]

One more question, how much paint do I need to paint the bottom?

[bcmarinamanager]

I only use about a quart and a half. It might take two full quarts for a clean bottom. The 1 & 1/2 quarts gets two good coats on mine.

[garagenc]

Garage, what do you mean when you say you clean the boat with toilet cleaner while in the water? I can't picture this...

I wet a sponge with it and crawl around the boat wiping the hull, I put on my snorkel and clean the bottom. With the sponge dipped in bucket or squirt it on the sponge the water the boat sits in won't dilute it enought to not make it work.

I usually do it at the place we get out and swim in (shallow water).

[whale]

Personally, my boat would not get used half as much as I did last year if I did not have a slip. For that price you should consider yourself extremely fortunate to have the opportunity....and that close to your home....consider yourself blessed! Mine is $950 and that is due to the bridge restriction that I go under for one.....most in my area are $1800 and up....

I bought a gallon of paint last year and will have enough to do it twice.

[spareparts]

around here it usually 12 per foot, per month on an anual contract, with a 30 ft minimum

[bcmarinamanager]

At my marina it's $17/ft/month. A 22' slip (the size needed for a 20' boat) is $374 a month, but we require a year lease which equals $4,488 for the year. You are very fortunate.

[rb437]

At my marina it's $17/ft/month. A 22' slip (the size needed for a 20' boat) is $374 a month, but we require a year lease which equals $4,488 for the year. You are very fortunate.

Don't I know it! Slip around here are similarly priced. Local marinas here would get about $2000 for a boatel and about $1200 for trailer storage with the use of a ramp. $210.00 a year is like free to me. I couldn't buy a slip for that.

I think this is the paint I'm going to try, in a week it will be on sale for $159.00.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/248872/377%20710%201004/712/Paint,%20Varnish%20/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/10/0?N=377%20710%201004&Ne=712&Ntt=Paint,%20Varnish%20&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=44&subdeptNum=229&classNum=229

[Bygracealone]

Hey Rick,

When did you change your screen name? I didn't recognize you were rb437 till just now...

I hope all is well with you... :beer:

Garage, thanks for the explanation. Now I understand...

Hey Rick, what do you think would happen to us here in Annapolis if they caught us cleaning our boats with toilet cleaner while our boats were still in the water? I think they'd cook our goose...

You guys down south are "hardcore" :party:

[rb437]

My screen name changed when the web site moved to the new server. Not my choice, it just happen that way.

[bcmarinamanager]

BTW, if you have a businessof your own, or work in the marine industry, ask someone at West Marine about their Port Supply Account. It is only for the marine industry but it knocks the price of ALMOST everything in store down to the usual sale prices they advertise, if not more. I've been able to get some REALLLLY good deals on some things. I think with bottom paint it takes almost 50% off the regular price. I've got one through the marina here, I don't think it costa anything though.