Bottom Paint on 1993 23.5 centerboard

[Kevin Smith]

Just bought a new to me 1993 23.5 Hunter with no anti-fouling bottom paint. The boat was fresh water only.It will now be kept in a slip in saltwater. Can the centerboard be removed from the boat to allow access to the centerboard slot for bottom painting?Any tips on prepairing the bottom for painting?Thanks,Kevin Smith,Gautier, MS

 

[Rick Webb]

Paint

I recently bought a 23.5 also, my boat is kept at Keesler Marina. Where are you going to paint your boat? I need to paint mine also. The marina here is still not up to full speed after Georges. They can put it up on stands but finding room to do it is the problem. I am going to put Micron CSC on it. I remember the last time I painted a bottom we taped a brush to a stiring stick and globed it in the slot. Look foward to seeing you on the way to Ship Island.

 

[Dave Condon]

Painting

There are two steps removing the centerboard. You must remove the retaining bolt holding the center board housing bracket which is accessible at the base of the wooded compression post by lifting a small lid that may be either screwed in or siliconed in place.Then the boat will need to be lifted up with some type of lift.If the boat has been n the water all these years, consider allowing the hull to dry leaving it on the trailer for a while.There are various paints and ways to apply. The first is to clean the hull using dexaxer too. Some folks try to sand but I strongly recommend using a non sanding primer or call Hunter and they can advise the specific scotch guard pad to use. Recommend that you talk with the local marine store as to which paint to use.Micron CSC previously mentioned is a good one too. The most important thing is to properly prep the surface

 

[Kevin Smith]

Thanks Rick & Dave

Thanks for the responses.I'm going to do my own bottom job in my dad's barn. I will be using a couple of web straps attached to four come-a-longs in the overhead to raise the boat from the trailer for painting.