Hi all! I'm new, from Seattle - Question

[thestarboard]

Hi, just wanted to introduce myself. I'm new to this forum and I'm somewhat of a boat newbie and I have some questions. Firstly, do y'all wax the bottom of your boat? I have a fiberglass boat and am noticing some algae on the bottom.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Hi all! I'm new, from Seattle - Question

there's no need to wax a bottom.

If you leave the boat in the water, you should either paint the bottom with anti-fouling paint, or just pull it out periodically and scrub off the growth. it all depends how bad it is, how long you leave it in, how you want to spend your time. Painting a bottom is expensive at first, has to be done every other year or so (depending on 1000 different factors), slows the boat down slightly (but not as much as marine growth) but you can't beat the convenience.

And what do you have a boat for: for something to ride in, or something to work on?

Welcome aboard!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Hi all! I'm new, from Seattle - Question

Beginnings of algae growth is a lot easier to take care of than removing a bunch of it and bottom painting. There is nothing wrong with waxing the bottom of the boat although the flow of water over it will quickly remove the wax -- but periodic waxing will at least slow the growth.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Hi all! I'm new, from Seattle - Question

There's also the variety of hull cleaners available for the mild to moderate slimes, some as strong as muriatic acid-based. They work well but also strip the wax. Good Luck.