Bottom paint help

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[Bygracealone]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[garagenc]

Originally Posted by Bygracealone

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).