How often should you bottom paint

[carl gamble]

How often should you have the bottom painted on a boat. I purchased a new Hunter 310 in June 2000 and have not had the bottom re-painted since I took delivery.

 

[Buck Harrison]

Carl

Is the boat in fresh or salt water?What kind of paint was put on at commissioning... how many coats?Have you dived under the boat to ck the bottom, shaft, and prop (and zinc(s))???Have you run the boat aground?Usually you can get 2 seasons out of a paint job if 2 or more coats were put on and its a good quality paint, and you don't run the boat aground scraping the paint off keel and rudder, and, you're not in the tropics, and , and............ So, whatever the answers to the above questions are, you've gotten 2 seasons out of the origonal paint and even under the best of circumstances, in salt water, you will need to repaint this Spring.....don't know about fresh water.

 

[Bob Howie]

Life of bottom paint

I'm in salt water off Galveston Bay and I prefer Interlux Ultra bottom paint. I will typically get at the very least 2 years out of it. Some might say I'd get longer, but I kinda doubt it. A good rule of thumb, as Buck pointed out, is that under most conditions, 2 years is about the best you can figure on bottom job.

 

[Steve Dion]

When it is worn!

Carl:You are in fresh water (I guess that is what y'all call it). We are also in fresh water (not salt) in the California Delta. The bottom paint is just a method to be able to keep the slime from attaching to the fiberglass. Depending on the type of paint that is on the boat, you can just scrub it to keep the slime off. Once the paint starts to wear it is time to paint again. You should be looking at a bottom job next summer some time. When you start looking for paint, consider the new "Slime Reduction Paints". If it looks good you can let it go for another year. We have used a "Dri-diver" to scrub the bottom. It seems to do a good job on the bottom and the keel. You will probably have to do the water line by hand. I will tell you that the boats do sail faster when the bottom is clean.

 

[Jim Rushing]

Word from your neighbor

Carl, I have been getting three years on Lake Texhoma. But, I have the boat pulled once a year and the bottom washed and inspected. I am coming up on a pullout this Jan or Feb. You should plan on having it done and if the bottom paint is gone, they will tell you. Have it repainted during the winter and you don't lose any sailing time.

 

[Bruce Hill]

Depends on the type of paint

I have been a saltwater and freshwater boat owner. The "salt" guys that replied are right, 2 years is what it lasts. But salt water paint on boats that sit in the water full time are a lot different than freshwater paint for 6 months. My current boat is in Lake Michigan, freshwater and 7 months in. So, logically I did not repaint year 2 and it looks like crap now. It's a lighter paint, once per year is good, but it's cheaper than the salt paint, I think. Also, if the boat is on the hard over the winter you can paint it yourself, the boat yard should be willing to instruct.