bottom paint project

[The Bad Fish]

I need to re-do the bottom paint before next year so here's some of my questions,

Can I rent the stands or boat jacks to put the boat on?

whats the best ablative bottom paint to use?

How much paint do I need to cover the bottom of a 25' boat?

1 coat of paint or 2?

I know all the saftey precautions, respirator, tyvek suit and all that stuff. bottom paint is nasty stuff.

[Flush Release]

Can I rent the stands or boat jacks to put the boat on?

Wood blocks or cribbing works fine.

whats the best ablative bottom paint to use?

The highest copper content that you can get

How much paint do I need to cover the bottom of a 25' boat?

Two coats and a gallon should do it.

[OceanBlue]

My $.02 - DO NOT DO IT!

Hire someone. I swore last summer I would never do it again and I won't. It is the most horrific thing I've ever experienced. No matter how much protective gear I wore, I still had the stuff in my eyes, ears, nose, pores of my skin. It's not the painting - it's the sanding. Ugh!

Keith, trust me... It's not worth it to try and do it yourself.

But if you insist, I might have some leftover paint you can have...

[Flush Release]

I know the feeling Still itching from it

[Mr. Fisherman]

Well as long as you are still itching you may as well do mine :grin:

[Flush Release]

UUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[corrirod]

Keith,

If you decide to have someone do it for you give Pacific Powerboats a call or NW Fiberglass Specialties. If you need the numbers give me a ring or PM.

If you are just putting on an ablative coat there shouldn't be much prep work but if you have to take a "hard" coat off it's no fun and you should have someone else do it because it will require a blasting.

If you are planning on keeping the boat in the water for a long time then you might consider doing a "hard" coat in red and your ablatives in black(or some other color), this way when your ablative coat finally sloughs off you'll see the different color hard coat and know it's time to repaint the ablative.

[Reelentless]

I bought my boat used and the bottom paint was flaking off. I decided to strip it and start fresh.

I agree with OB. Its by far the worst job I have ever done. Laying on your back doing the work makes it even worse.

I used stripper called Peel-away. West Marine used to sell it. Its made for fiberglass and it worked ok. It needs to be at least 65-70 degrees for it to be effective though. Another option is soda blasting.

Good luck!

[Nalu]

Sheesh, bottom painting isn't that hard!

Tow boat to boat yard of your preference.
Drop off with crappy looking paint, worn through in several areas.
Write check.
Pick up and tow back to port and put in slip.

Easy!

I'm all about saving money, but this is one I'll gladly pay someone else to do. I've thought about doing it myself, and then come to my senses.

[The Bad Fish]

thanks for all the responses.

rod, send me those numbers and I will call and get estimates, I just dont want to pay someone $800-1000 bucks for a lousy job. I have heard of some boatyards to stay away from.

[Anthony1013]

I agree with Nalu.... the cost difference wasn't that much for me so I just had someone else get dirty. Plus, it's just a nasty job.

[CATCH AND EAT]

I did it myself a year ago and it was certainly a pain in the tail. Prep work was nasty dusty even in my shop. Doing a virgin hull and scratching up that nicely finished bottom is a heart breaker and putting that bottom paint on just ain't as perty as she was before. But I no longer drag shag carpet around during the summer and cleanup after the mooring festivities is pretty much a breeze far as exterior goes.

Listen, $1200 bucks is a great investment to have someone else do the work and you can ask me how I know this because been there done that.