Bottom painting.

[Mike H.]

The diver says "It's time for new bottom paint". It's been three years since the last bottom job. We bought the boat right after the bottom was painted.

I just got a quote for $ 1,532. for new bottom paint.

If I do it myself, is there a substantial savings? Is there special skills involved? Any recommendations?

 

[lnikl]

What does the bottom paint quote include? If it includes hauling, prep work and re-blocking the boat and a good quality paint, then the deal starts to look good. If it is just a paint job, it seems a bit pricey.

 

[Allan12210]

Mike,

Ah, that Richmond. We hauled and did the bottom on ours in May down in Alameda for about $900 total. I bought the paint in February on sale for $100/gal x 2 (ZSpar B91). My wife and I have been doing it ourselves since 1985. In that price we wetsanded the bottom and put on two coats of paint. We get 4 years out of it. While it was out, we changed our own cutlass bearing and compounded and waxed the entire hull. All that would cost even more. Also checked and lubed each through hull. This time was pretty easy. The boat came out on Friday morning and back in Monday right after lunch. We got a lunchtime hang in the Travelift and painted where the pads were from the cradle and the bottom of the keel.

Allan

 

[Mike H.]

Mike,

Ah, that Richmond. We hauled and did the bottom on ours in May down in Alameda for about $900 total. I bought the paint in February on sale for $100/gal x 2 (ZSpar B91). My wife and I have been doing it ourselves since 1985. In that price we wetsanded the bottom and put on two coats of paint. We get 4 years out of it. While it was out, we changed our own cutlass bearing and compounded and waxed the entire hull. All that would cost even more. Also checked and lubed each through hull. This time was pretty easy. The boat came out on Friday morning and back in Monday right after lunch. We got a lunchtime hang in the Travelift and painted where the pads were from the cradle and the bottom of the keel.

Allan

That's the info I was looking for! Thanks! Svendsen's wants about $ 2,300 and Berkeley Marine wants $ 1,440, (paint not included). Based on your info, it seems there is a substantial savings DIY. Thanks again.

Mike

 

[Allan12210]

Good deal Mike, glad to help. Shoot me an email if you need any other info or details on what to do. I think you will find it is a great opportunity to really learn your boat by doing work yourself. Got to learn by doing.

Allan

 

[Endurance2010]

This is a lot of work and I don't know if it's a good idea. Outside of Allan, the DIY'ers I've seen doing this have a number of people helping them out and they usually have smaller boats. On a 34', I was all jazzed up to compound and wax my hull while the yard did the bottom. I could barely finish the starboard side and the stern. I had to use a ladder versus the rolling scaffold (which would have made life a lot easier.) The yard finished the bottom in about 5 days. I was on the hard for about 25 days while the yard did some other work. My neighbor in the yard was doing his bottom with some major fixes, all on his own. He would come after work and the two of us were there with our lights slaving away-what a sight. This was over a Svendsens last March. I don't know how Allan did all of his work in 3 days.

In sum, if you have the time, can cope with the weather, have someone to help you, and have a truck/suv to bring your tools with you, than maybe consider it. On a side note, personally, I don't want to touch the bottom or any thru-hulls. I buy piece of mind and insurance through the yard's work.

 

[shipwreck66]

Honestly, how much time have you got, that's the issue here. When I did my C22 myself it took me several weekends, coming home covered with red VC Offshore on my face from sanding. The painting is easy, it's the prep that'll kick you. When time came to do our C27 I didn't even hesitate, I let them do it, same for the wax and buff on the sides.

 

[Mike H.]

If you do the math, it makes it hard to justify DIY on this chore.

Haul and Splash $ 400.
4 days yard rent 100.
2 gal paint 500.
misc. tools 200.
----------
$ 1,200.

Berkely Marine Center will do it for about $ 1,900. My time is worth more than $ 200. per day, plus they will do it in three days and probably a better job. I'll probably R&R my depth and speed transducers myself while they do the bottom.

Mike

 

[shipwreck66]

Mike, that's what I did. while the yard had it out I took care of the thru-hulls and sanded the prop, left all the blister repairs and painting to those who can do it right.

 

[Endurance2010]

Good decision Mike.

 

[Don Lucas]

A lot different picture in the northeast where our boats get hauled for the winter every year. For us to DIY it's just the price of the paint and your labor and you have months to do it.