[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.