bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

indy440

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Messages
400
If a boat has bottom paint it generally means it was left in the water in the past, correct? Is that always a bad thing?

Im sorry if this has been discussed before, my search function doesnt work.
 

rs2k

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
486
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

I know what you mean about the search feature not working. It seems to be happening quite often lately. :mad: I do this when it happens: Go to google.com and type in your search plus site:forums.iboats.com

To search for bottom paint:

type in:

bottom paint site:forums.iboats.com


Having bottom paint doesn't mean it's bad. It could be a LOT worse, they may have kept it in the ocean for years at a time without any bottom paint at all. :eek:

Some people put bottom paint on their boats and still trailered it everywhere.... Like the previous owner of my cabin cruiser.
 

RWilson2526

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
810
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

If the boat has been bottom painted it is probable that it has been wet slipped in salt water.

Generally speaking just because a boat has been wet slipped does not mean its a piece of crap.....however most likely a wet slipped boat does not usually flush the engine after salt water use like a trailered boat may be (although some people do)....but just because a boat is trailered doesnt mean that the owner flushed after every use either.....I wouldnt rule out a boat thats been wet slipped if its in good shape and well taken care. As everyone here has stated before it all comes down to how well the boat has been taken care of regardles of wether its salt water or freshwater use.
 

seven up

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 4, 2006
Messages
275
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

I'm gonna check on that.



If a boat has bottom paint it generally means it was left in the water in the past, correct? Is that always a bad thing?
 

indy440

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Messages
400
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

Well I just went and looked at the boat on my lunch today. Its a 1993 Larson 17' bowrider with the 3.0 4-cylinder. Its a one owner boat and was slipped in the mohawk river (fresh water) right in front of the marina and that was the excuse for the bottom paint. The hour meter shows only 73 hours (no way to confirm). Its on consignment at a marina near where I work. The seats are real good, the floor is real good, and the motor looks good. It comes with a bow cover and a bimini cover that folds down to cover the cockpit. They didnt want a deposit but I committed to buy it for 3000 out-the-door (so about 2700 for the boat without fees). They are going to get it washed and cleaned it up, and tomorrow I'm supposed to sign the papers and pay for it.

Its listed here on iboats, a 1993 larson in Glenville, NY.
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

I wouldn't worry about a boat that had been kept in the water; that's what they're made for. Indded, a tralered hull can be damaged from sitting on the wrong set-up of rollers, etc. I saw a 19' that was junk b/cit hung from davits for several years and warped. But if I had two side by side, I'd take the trailered boat over the moored, and the fresh over the salt. Don't sweat it. You'll have plenty of other stuff to worry about.
 

Numlaar

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
633
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

If the boat has been bottom painted it is probable that it has been wet slipped in salt water.

.....however most likely a wet slipped boat does not usually flush the engine after salt water use like a trailered boat may be.

Ain't that the truth!!!

My boat was "bottom painted" when i got it, and it was obviously left in saltwater...

The motor is all pitted from corrosion, and the inside of it is even worse...

Never bought a boat that had been bottom painted before, and never will again... (It was nasty to remove the paint too!)

Check out these threads on my motor:

Corrosion

Lower Unit

midsection
 

madurodave

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Messages
347
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

Ain't that the truth!!!

My boat was "bottom painted" when i got it, and it was obviously left in saltwater...

The motor is all pitted from corrosion, and the inside of it is even worse...

Never bought a boat that had been bottom painted before, and never will again... (It was nasty to remove the paint too!)

Check out these threads on my motor:

Corrosion

Lower Unit

midsection

how in the h$ll did you do that?
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

Better question--why would you remove bottom paint? Not worth the effort for looks; doesn't slow you down enough to matter.

I did remove all the paint once from an aluminum 16' b/c I put on the wrong paint--one reacts with aluminum and will corrode it and the other won't. My dad was not happy but he was a forgiving man--he had told me which to use and I didn't pay attention. I had spent half the day painting it; spent another whole day with help removing it, then had to sand and prime. Lessons learned by a 16 year old! What you have to do if you want to use the boat, for one.
 

Numlaar

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
633
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

how in the h$ll did you do that?

Better question--why would you remove bottom paint? Not worth the effort for looks; doesn't slow you down enough to matter.

Sanded it off... (I'm doing a total rebuild on the boat, (and its trailered), including new gel-coat, so I wanted a nice clean look). The bottom was naaassty.
 

gstanton

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 3, 2003
Messages
451
Re: bottom paint, is it a bad thing?

Another problem with a boat that has been bottom painted is that you have to keep painting the bottom (yearly) - or expend a ton of work getting it all off.

Now that I have a lift - the next boat will not be painted.
 
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