I am getting a slip near Watch Hill and I was wondering about bottom paint. New boat - do I have to paint the bottom if I leave it in the water? What happens if I don't paint? I'm really psyched about the slip so I figured there had to be a down side which would cost some more $$$$.

Scotch, you DEFINITELY need to paint the bottom. You'll end up with a crust of barnacles and growth that will slow your boat down and take a weeks worth of sanding and scraping to remove (if you can get it all!). There are a bunch of different paints on the market. One of the more popular now is the multi-season ablatives. I used West Marine's CPP. Read the directions for applications and do a little research. For a new boat, you may need to prep with a solvent to remove any wax or residue. If you have a fishfinder/sounder, you should also get some transducer paint to keep it from fouling.
Bill

My boat has been in the water for about 3 weeks and there really isn't any buildup yet, but yeah you will need the bottom paint, I'll be having mine done sometime in the next week or so. The prices I have been quoted range from $300-$375. They say to have the first paint and prep done professionally, and then you you can maintain it yourself. I'm going to have Billington Cove do mine, they will pull it out of the water for me and put it back in when it's done.

179,
make sure they don't put the boat in the water before it is fully dried.
scotch bonnet,
yes paint the bottom, you might want to look into the clear antifouling panit for the lower housing of your motor as well. It saves the scrubbing at the end of the season to make your motor look better.

Thanks for the info guys. Out comes the wallet AGAIN.....

I suggest ablatives !!

I use interlux ACT ($70/gal) its a copolymer ablative so you won't get paint build over the years.
I painted the first coat red, and then black after that.
This way you will know when the boat needs repainting when the red is starting to show. Neat trick someone showed me.
tranducer paint is a must.

Remember a boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money !!!!!

I painted mine last year....not the easiest thing....and they say that the dust it creates if VERY VERY bad for you....

...How have you guys done it ??....

....Do you paint what you can while its on Boat Stands....then move the trailer in ...and paint the spots you missed, or do you paint what you can on the trailer and then raise it up with the boat stands and then paint what you missed?...

...I know the sanding must be done while on the Boat stands....but how do you fellas do the actual painting??...

I keep my 15-footer on the trailer in the winter. To paint, I get what I can while on the trailer and let it dry. I then put blocking under the back corners of the boat and get help to lift the front of the boat while pulling trailer out half way. I then paint the exposed part of the hull, which is pretty much where the bunks were. After this dries, I lift the front of the boat and slide trailer back under, and shes ready to go.

i have a 21' .I sand what i can reach with a palm sander on the trailer, then CAREFULLY winch the boat back about 1 foot and sand the rest. Then i paint it in this position, then pull it back on (day later) and finish it up.

Good Luck

I painted it on the stands. I was told by someone to put it on using a pad. Said you get a even coat that way. I used the pad and it was easy and wasn't sloppy. $100 a gallon you don't want to waste it. Once paint is dry, I have a extra stand which I use near each stand to get the 4 spots. I would definitely use bottom paint if in the slip.

Bill

Billy:

What do you mean pad?
Get it at the marine supply?:confused:

I've bottom painted my boat for the last three seasons and its a real pain, but i agree, definitely necessary. I was wondering, I just bought an 8' launch for the back of my boat and was planning on keeping it in the water in my slip (there's an area where it would fit) when it's not in use, since it blocks the back entrance of my boat. It's a rigid bottom hull with inflatible sides, do i need to paint the bottom rigid part of the hull and the underside of the inflatible parts or not? I've never seen an inflatable with bottom paint, but then I've never seen the bottom of a rigid inflatible. Thanks for your help and input.

Lou