bottom paint?

[ckone0814]

bottom paint on a used boat - is this good or bad? what is it for (other than the obvious)? what are the benefits and disadvantages?

 

[elhombre]

Re: bottom paint?

My boat stays in the water from April-May thru Oct.. I'm in a brackish tributary of the Chesapeak Bay and I bottom paint to keep fowling to a minimum (barnicles etc.). Its a nasty job but necessary if the boat is not trailered and operated in a salt water environment.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: bottom paint?

Bottom paint is truly necessary for any boat that is slipped in the water, anywhere. even in fresh water. It's number one job is to keep stuff from growing (or at least sticking) on the hull. So if you are buying a used boat and intend to keep it in the water, you'll want to bottom paint it anyway.

However, one thing a lot of people seem to forget or skip is the epoxy barrier coat that needs to go on before the bottom paint. This is done to "seal" the bottom gelcoat and prevent blisters. So it is possible to have a boat with bottom paint on it, but still have blisters. And that is a bad thing.

 

[ckone0814]

Re: bottom paint?

ok, so a used boat for sale that has the bottom painted every season (2001) likely means that the boat sits in the water during the season? i guess this isn't necessarily a good thing but it depends on overall care and time in the water.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: bottom paint?

Correct, maintanence and care are the keys.

 

[gstanton]

Re: bottom paint?

IMHO, a bottom painted boat is not something I'd want to purchase... given these circumstances... First off, I'm talking about small pleasure craft and/or fishing boats, not the bigger cruisers.
Realize that a bottom painted boat will (practically) need to re-painted, annually, forever.
If a boat is to be kept on a lift - salt or fresh - bottom paint is irrelevant.
If a boat is to be kept on a trailer - salt or fresh - bottom paint is irrelevant.
If a boat is to be moored in salt, then it is worth while.
When I got my Sea Ray, it was painted and I was going to keep it moored in salt for 6 months and then in fresh for 6 months. Then the barnacles ate the in-poor-shape bottom paint. Then I got a lift for the salt location, and it sits moored in the fresh. That was my first major lesson in salt water! I still need to refresh the bottom paint annually, just to keep it looking OK.

Granted, the fresh water gets a little slimey from algae, but a little oxalic acid melts it off at the end of the season. And algae doesn't "eat" the hull like barnacles.

I would not pay big bux for a painted hull. I would pay less.

 

[abj87]

Re: bottom paint?

I leave mine in the water all summer and don't use any anti fouling, its a relatively cold freshwater lake. i just give it a scrub every once and a while. Bottom paint not only kills the value of the boat it also slows it down quite a bit.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: bottom paint?

Bottom paint not only kills the value of the boat it also slows it down quite a bit.

Not nearly as much as a fouled bottom will. Try not bottom painting your boat in a warm fresh water lake in the middle of farm country. You'd be stunned how much grows on a boat in a week!

 

[ckone0814]

Re: bottom paint?

thanks for the responses. here's the exact scenario; i'm hoping to look at a used 18' 01 Sea Pro this-coming weekend that, in writing and pictures, looks to be the "one" I've been looking for. it looks like a super boat and is the style i need. the seller has had the bottom repainted annually and based on comments and facts I'm assuming the boat has been in salt water each summer season since 2001 but garaged the other three. at this point i'm confident the boat has been meticulously maintained mechanically and cosmetically. the boat has 130 hours on it which i'd view as low for an 01.

my use will be 50/50 fresh/salt and i will be trailering it.

could i have the bottom paint removed or is it now like paint on a house; once it's painted you have the maintenance forever?

is this a big enough issue for me to throw this one away and keep looking? or could it still be a possibility that could be dealt with by a lower price or just making sure the boat is great otherwise?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: bottom paint?

The gelcoat has to be sanded prior to bottom painting. So if you remove it, you'll end with a dull, scratchy looking bottom. Don't remove it. Just let it wear off over time on the trailer. That's what my dad did on his cruiser. The bottom painted faded and wore away mostly, but never was completely gone to reveal the dull gelcoat. Just check the hull bottom closely for blisters and check the engine for signs of saltwater induced corrosion. Best of luck to you!