No bottom paint

kappykaplan · Apr 3, 2023

If the boat will spend most of its time on a trailer, bottom paint (ablative) is not necessary.

SailingLoto · Apr 3, 2023

If you are only trailer sailing and not letting it float for long, you do not need bottom paint.

Terry Cox · Apr 3, 2023

No, not if you store your boat on the hard. Spending long periods in the water without movement spawns marine growth to attach.

dlochner · Apr 3, 2023

When speaking of bottom paint, one is usually speaking of anti-fouling paint. No need if the boat on a trailer. If the boat is left in the water for a week or so, as might happen during a vacation, then a pressure washer will make short work of any slime that is on the bottom.

Crazy Dave Condon · Apr 3, 2023

Use to.be a MacGregor dealer years ago. You were given excellent advice. If you see any scum wash it off.

rgranger · Apr 3, 2023

I have this pressure washer

... get something similar and if you ever leave the boat in the water for more than a day or two, give the bottom a quick wash to knock the slime off.

Joe · Apr 3, 2023

Use toilet bowl cleaner to get the crud off quickly. A bucket of diluted acid based toilet cleaner, (it's cheap at Smart&Final), a long handled pot brush and a garden hose works well if the power washer's broke. That said, if you find you like to weekend on the hook alot, you'll be surprised how fast the slime/algae can appear. Therefore, slapping on a couple coats of inexpensive ablative bottom paint is a pretty easy project. But the paint on sale, get the least expensive you can find, a roll of tape and disposable rollers... easy peasy.

BigEasy · Apr 3, 2023

jodyjuli said:
I just bought a Macgregor 26 s that i plan to store on a trailer. it has a nice gel coat on the bottom. Do i need to have the bottom painted.

Just be careful with the amount of time it remains continuously in the water. I noted on your profile that you are in Florida, where it is normal for water temps to reach into the 80's during summer months. All types of growth are more prolific in that kind of environment. Many years ago, I had a fiberglass runabout with no bottom paint that I allowed to remain in water (during summer), in a marina, for approximately one week. The entire bottom was covered with algae, slime, & a few barnacles. Took hours to clean it with scrapers and stiff brushes. That was last time that I made that mistake.

LloydB · Apr 3, 2023

My boat gets crud when sitting in a slip over the summer but the pressure washer takes care of that faster than any coat of paint that I could put on. I am in cold freshwater so if that were to change or I couldn't easily pressure wash then I would go with ablative.

capta · Apr 3, 2023

Have an artist come in and paint a great white facing away from your hull and scare anybody coming at you when you are heeled over.

stickinthemud57 · Apr 3, 2023

Add me to the "no you do not need bottom paint" crowd. When I bought my 26S, the previous owner kept it on the trailer, just as you plan to do. No bottom paint. This is ideal, as even the best anti-fouling paints will not be as "slick" as a good, blister-free gel coat.

Since I keep my boat in a slip (fresh water), I decided to apply an epoxy barrier coat to avoid blistering, and an anti-fouling coat to discourage algae growth.

If you do have the boat in the water long enough for algae to start growing (2 weeks in the summer in fresh water, less in salt water), be sure to remove it as soon as possible after you haul it out. The longer it stays, the harder it is to deal with later. A 6" plastic scraper and a wet towel will be all you need.

Should you decide to keep your boat in a slip, you will want to consider applying an epoxy barrier coat, then an antifouling coat, ablative or otherwise.

thinwater · Apr 7, 2023

In Florida it will foul quickly, so I'd limit it to 1-week in the water unless you love scrubbing, and you will still have some.