Painting area between boot stripe and bottom paint

[shank]

This isn't my boat and just using the photo for illustrative purposes since my set up and colors the same.
The previous owner painted the gap white between the boot stripe and the VC 17 bottom paint and it's flaking off. I'm going to stick with the same bottom paint and bought a small amount of TotalBoat red epoxy paint for the boot stripe. What's the best paint type for the white gap? I wish it wasn't painted at all. I have some leftover topside paint that I was hoping to use. Thanks

 

[jssailem]

I would use the same color paint as the topside. If not it would look strange.

 

[shank]

But do I use topside paint this close to the bottom?

 

[jssailem]

Sure. To address the image you posted, if doing just the lower white stripe, you will need to tape off the red and blue areas to paint the white stripe.

Ideally painting would prep the topside then paint the area above the bottom paint the solid color. Once dry (follow paint instructions) you come back and paint the bottom taping off the topside area. Finally you tape the stripe area and paint the red stripe.

Use the expensive tape that stops bleeding under the tape. Same tape as used for pinstripes on cars.

 

[Joe]

But do I use topside paint this close to the bottom?

Did you have another type of paint in mind? Gel coat, perhaps My 1977 C27 still has original gel coat on bottom and topsides. The "gap" is not usually painted in. It's part of the boat's original paint, or gel coat. The reason there's a gap in the first place is because tape was applied to set the waterline for bottom painting. The same tape was most likely left in place to apply the boot stripe... thus the gap is what's left when the tape is pulled off. So... if you're going to paint.. make it the same color as the topside... or if you're adventurous, try using gel coat.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Topside paint should be fine as long as your waterline is in the right place and the boat doesn’t sit too low in the water. Topside paint is not good for continuous submersion, but the types of splashing and underwater exposure it gets when sailing should be alright.

 

[Apex]

Try removing the VC first: Acetone. You may find the gel coat still under there.