Need Boat Bottom Painted

Resident 2B · 04-09-2013, 06:00 PM

I am looking at used boats this spring and I have seen two that I liked. Both were stated to be "freshwater only", but they both had marine bottom paint. I am still looking, as I will not buy a boat for the lake that has its bottom painted.

The rule of supply and demand comes into play here. I, for one, believe there is much lower demand for a boat with bottom paint than there is for a boat without bottom paint.

I have had two salt water boats in the 1990s and sanding/painting the bottom each year was a royal pain. In addition, that paint is nasty especially when being sanded. You do not want to inhale it or get any sanding residue in your eyes or mouth.

Just my opinion, but it is based on experience.

R2B

SAB1 · 04-09-2013, 08:02 PM

To some, a painted bottom does devalue as it typically means the boat has been in the salt. If it hasn't it still can lead to a bit of devalue because it becomes a maintenance project to keep it looking good if one cares. I have found over the years waxing the bottom of the hull helps a bit when removing the scum on the boat but its pretty neglible impact. For boats that heavily marred by the rusty color that can be gotten off with with bartenders friend and a little elbow grease.

bajabob1000 · 04-09-2013, 08:39 PM

The boat has minor damage and scrapes on botton, and boat will see
mixed used.

Resident 2B · 04-09-2013, 08:56 PM

If mixed use means some salt water and if it has scrapes, then time to paint the bottom. I do not think the bottom paint is waterproof, but I have not been in salt water for almost 20 years and a lot of development in paints has happened in the last 20 years.

My concern is water seeping through the scraps causing more trouble. You might want to address the scraps before you paint, at least talk with someone who knows fibreglass and morden bottom paints. The ocean marinas should be able to help here.

Good luck with it.

R2B

Rich · 04-10-2013, 08:32 AM

I have an older boat (a 1990 27 ft cruiser) that had a strange partial bottom paint on it that was mostly worn off and ready to be applied anyway.

By 'strange partial' I mean that the bottom paint didn't even come close to being above the water line as you moved to the stern of the boat, but was above the water line at the bow. It really made me wonder why someone would bottom paint a boat like this. It makes no sense at all.

When cleaning the boat with On-Off this past fall (wow is that easy to do), it also removed most of the worn out bottom paint too. If I hadn't run out of On-Off and daylight last fall, I would have continued to remove the rest of the old bottom paint as it's so easy to clean the hull with the On-Off.

So if you are thinking of bottom painting your boat for the lake, ask yourself why? The bottom cleaners are very easy to use and inexpensive.

To those that don't like bottom paint on a boat, it's probably very easy to remove it if you dont like it, especially on a fiberglass boat. So don't rule out a bottom painted boat.

Now that I'm going to be selling my boat, I'm trying to decide if I should finish the job of removing the old bottom paint. It almost washes off with the right 'remover'.

jrc · 04-10-2013, 10:06 AM

Bajabob1000 says his boat is a Searay, a lot of them come from the factory with bottom paint, especially the cruisers. He may have no choice in matter.

I know when I was shopping a few years ago, Irwin told me it was impossible to buy a v-drive boat from Searay without bottom paint because the hull of the boat was not cosmetically finished. The paint was the finish coat.

I did not bottom paint my lake boat, just my acid wash every fall.

Belmont Resident · 04-11-2013, 06:36 AM

Have you tried dealers or boat detailing places for info?

codeman671 · 04-11-2013, 11:53 AM

Lets just answer his question...Everyone will have a different opinion on the need for it.

Call Matt at Supreme Marine.

I am sure Ron's Fiberglass USA could do it as well.

04-11-2013, 06:36 AM	#7
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	Have you tried dealers or boat detailing places for info? __________________ "better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, then a long life spent in a miserable way.."

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04-09-2013, 06:00 PM	#1
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,358 Thanks: 996 Thanked 314 Times in 164 Posts	I am looking at used boats this spring and I have seen two that I liked. Both were stated to be "freshwater only", but they both had marine bottom paint. I am still looking, as I will not buy a boat for the lake that has its bottom painted. The rule of supply and demand comes into play here. I, for one, believe there is much lower demand for a boat with bottom paint than there is for a boat without bottom paint. I have had two salt water boats in the 1990s and sanding/painting the bottom each year was a royal pain. In addition, that paint is nasty especially when being sanded. You do not want to inhale it or get any sanding residue in your eyes or mouth. Just my opinion, but it is based on experience. R2B

04-09-2013, 08:02 PM	#2
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,276 Thanks: 196 Thanked 336 Times in 244 Posts	To some, a painted bottom does devalue as it typically means the boat has been in the salt. If it hasn't it still can lead to a bit of devalue because it becomes a maintenance project to keep it looking good if one cares. I have found over the years waxing the bottom of the hull helps a bit when removing the scum on the boat but its pretty neglible impact. For boats that heavily marred by the rusty color that can be gotten off with with bartenders friend and a little elbow grease.

04-09-2013, 08:39 PM	#3
bajabob1000 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The boat has minor damage and scrapes on botton, and boat will see mixed used.

04-09-2013, 08:56 PM	#4
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,358 Thanks: 996 Thanked 314 Times in 164 Posts	If mixed use means some salt water and if it has scrapes, then time to paint the bottom. I do not think the bottom paint is waterproof, but I have not been in salt water for almost 20 years and a lot of development in paints has happened in the last 20 years. My concern is water seeping through the scraps causing more trouble. You might want to address the scraps before you paint, at least talk with someone who knows fibreglass and morden bottom paints. The ocean marinas should be able to help here. Good luck with it. R2B

04-10-2013, 08:32 AM	#5
Rich Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Derry / Gilford Posts: 1,256 Thanks: 75 Thanked 348 Times in 237 Posts	I have an older boat (a 1990 27 ft cruiser) that had a strange partial bottom paint on it that was mostly worn off and ready to be applied anyway. By 'strange partial' I mean that the bottom paint didn't even come close to being above the water line as you moved to the stern of the boat, but was above the water line at the bow. It really made me wonder why someone would bottom paint a boat like this. It makes no sense at all. When cleaning the boat with On-Off this past fall (wow is that easy to do), it also removed most of the worn out bottom paint too. If I hadn't run out of On-Off and daylight last fall, I would have continued to remove the rest of the old bottom paint as it's so easy to clean the hull with the On-Off. So if you are thinking of bottom painting your boat for the lake, ask yourself why? The bottom cleaners are very easy to use and inexpensive. To those that don't like bottom paint on a boat, it's probably very easy to remove it if you dont like it, especially on a fiberglass boat. So don't rule out a bottom painted boat. Now that I'm going to be selling my boat, I'm trying to decide if I should finish the job of removing the old bottom paint. It almost washes off with the right 'remover'.

04-10-2013, 10:06 AM	#6
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	Bajabob1000 says his boat is a Searay, a lot of them come from the factory with bottom paint, especially the cruisers. He may have no choice in matter. I know when I was shopping a few years ago, Irwin told me it was impossible to buy a v-drive boat from Searay without bottom paint because the hull of the boat was not cosmetically finished. The paint was the finish coat. I did not bottom paint my lake boat, just my acid wash every fall.

04-11-2013, 11:53 AM	#8
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,604 Thanks: 223 Thanked 856 Times in 519 Posts	Lets just answer his question...Everyone will have a different opinion on the need for it. Call Matt at Supreme Marine. I am sure Ron's Fiberglass USA could do it as well.