Bottom paint for keeping my boat in a slip

[F14CRAZY]

My girlfriend and I have been thinking hard about keeping my Bayliner in a slip not too far away for the summer.

Its been a trailer boat all its life and the hull is still virgin fiberglass. From searching old posts I found the practice to be to wipe with acetone, sand with 80 grit, probably wipe it again, then paint with multi year, antifouling paint.

Does that technique work well? Anything else I should know to go about it? Is there a trick to masking off where the paint line should be? The boat still has a waterline from last year (was in the water about 4 days straight) for me to go by.

Thanks guys.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bottom paint for keeping my boat in a slip

use last year's waterline. Follow the paint manufacturer's recommendations about the primer and the finish coat. There is a wide variety of antifouling paint, for different waters and also some you can take out of the water, let it dry, and put back in; others have to stay wet.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Bottom paint for keeping my boat in a slip

I take it my local West Marine should be able to point me in the right direction of the right antifouling paint? Or perhaps the marina owner/manager?

I was posting this quick but thought I should mention that I think my vessel is otherwise equipped fine for sitting in a slip...I have a good bilge pump with an auto float switch, good battery, camper top, and resealed the sterndrive

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Bottom paint for keeping my boat in a slip

You don't indicate where you are or what type of water you'll be sitting in. Get the proper antifouling paint for your water conditions. I would discuss with the marina reps on their preferences before talking to someone behind the counter at WM. Not taking anything away from them, but they may have been in their job for 4 days or not know a thing about the water condusive to that marina. Aside from the actual lake/river water itself, you have to take into account the runoff that occurs in the area as well as that changes the properties of the water. I spend summers in a saltwater slip that is almost 30% fresh water due to runoff.

Other things to consider:

Anodes- depending on your water type, you need to assure that you have the correct anodes for your boat. Zinc, magnesium, aluminum. Check here for the best anode for your boat: http://www.boatzincs.com/pdfs/Chart_B-Which_Anodes_Should_I_Use.pdf

Bonding- Make sure the bonding ground is good and all connections are free from corrosion. This is especially important if you have a 30 or 50 amp A/C input. As you list your boat as a 19' cuddy, I assume you do not. Do you have a battery cutoff switch installed? Not necessary, but it's a nice piece of mind since it would be tougher to get a battery charger to the boat now.

Fenders/lines- Make sure you are adequately protected from wind/storms with fenders and mooring/spring lines. For every boat that sinks out in the water, 3 sink at the dock. Make friends with people around you so they can notify you if something happens to your boat when your not around.

Keep your boat clean when in the slip. Don't be one of those people that visit once a years and have to scrape off 3 seasons of bird poo and dead bugs.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Bottom paint for keeping my boat in a slip

Thanks for the reply. It's freshwater, on a river connected to Lake Michigan. I'll ask the marina about what seems to work best.

That anode chart is pretty useful...I'll make sure my anodes are right. Sounds like I need magnesium, then aluminum. My anodes are present but I haven't really needed to think about them until now.

No A/C power on board.

And I plan on being on the boat about every weekend so it'll stay clean...you build a special connection with a boat when you gut the thing lol