Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

[werthert]

Hello all,
Dirty lake (Ozarks, MO). Wondering what be more economical/make sense.

1) Paint the bottom and leave it in the water for the season
2) Don't paint, leave it in water, and clean bottom end of every season
3) Don't paint and pony up the pain with the cost of a lift

I want to do option 2 but I have no idea how much it would cost to have done or if it will hurt the boat even if it's cleaned yearly.

Thanks!

EDIT: This is for ~30' cruiser, I/O (thanks auto!)

 

[45Auto]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

Might help if anybody knew what kind of drives, size of boat, etc, we were talking about .........

 

[dingbat]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

I'd opt for number three. Too many issues can arise on boats left in the water.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

If it's a canoe or rowboat, I personally wouldn't worry about it. A lift seems kind of like overkill in that situation .....

 

[rbh]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

its amazing what you can clean with a power washer. get a trailer.
rob

 

[werthert]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

If it's a canoe or rowboat, I personally wouldn't worry about it. A lift seems kind of like overkill in that situation .....

Yes, it's a canoe... and I've decided to get a 10K lift and paint it.
Thanks for being helpful.

dingbat, what kind of issues? I'm going to be on freshwater.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

Wondering what be more economical/make sense.

Thanks for being helpful.

You really don't think the size, type of drives, and value of the boat will have any relevence to your original question???????

Good luck, you're going to need it with that attitude.

 

[werthert]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

45Auto, you asked the question in your first post - I got it.
Your second post was just uncalled for, rude, and unnecessary. Just wasn't needed, and obvious of your intent to ridicule. If I wasn't clear, point it out once. What was the second post going to teach me that the first one didn't?

 

[marine4003]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

Dont sweat 45..he gets grumpy sometimes...

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

werthert - I'm in the same situation. Have open slips 2 blocks away and have a friend that owns ramp with what looks like an abandoned shorestation from a guy who has not paid him the last two years. His ramp is literally walking distance from my house. Currently, boat is on trailer at marina with in/out service. The marina mechanic I use is probably one of the friendliest honest guys on the water. It will be hard to leave for just convenience. Wife is telling me: "Its time to change locations" you know what that means. Anyways, if ramp doesnt work, i am going to paint my bottom and put on water. Thats my second option. The first is to rent ramp and shorestation from friend.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Paint bottom, put on lift, or clean yearly?

Here are some of the advantages of keeping a boat on a lift rather than in the water. Some may not apply to your situation.

We?re in tidal water so the last 2 are big deals for us.

1. Painting and scraping every year
2. Hull blisters
3. Gel coat is porous. You?ll get moisture migration thru the gelcoat over time. The moisture content of a hull left in water is much greater than that of a lift or trailer kept boat
4. Don?t have to worry about bilge pump and mechanical failures
5. Easy way to deal with varying water levels
6. Easy way to get the boat out of the water should bad weather set in