Bottom Paint

[Spanky]

Is bottom paint worth the $. We have a aluminum boat (Lund)
in order to paint it frist they have to sand blast it ($600) them special paint ($800 with labor)?
Just woundered if it is worth it.

[ETT]

Bottom paint is most often used on boats that are left in the water for the entire season, or at least left in for a couple weeks at a time. Boats that are trailered seldom need it.

[perchjerker]

ETT is correct. Bottom paint, also known as anti fouling paint, has additives in it that prevent marine growth while the boat is moored.

But even so, $800 is a lot for bottom painting that boat.

A real lot.

[fishhuntsd]

They are crazy for a price like that .About 4 years ago I fixed up a 16 ft Lund SW had a shop paint it all they did was use a D A sander on it and then went around the rivets with some thing that looked like heavy steel wool dont know what kind of paint they used but it really looked good when they got done with it. Just saw the boat down on the river 2 weeks ago and it still looks like it did when we fixed it up. The new owner takes good care of it. Never painted the bottom cost me $375.00 Good Luck!!!!!!!!

[Terroreyes]

Definitely get another quote. $600 to sand blast it is a rip off, not to mention that there's no need unless there's defective paint on there right now.

$800 to paint it, is just as bad for just a solid, nothing special color. Your'e talking about $80-100 worth of paint and 4-5 hours labor to prep, prime and paint.

If you trailer your boat, typical auto paint will do fine for the topcoat. "Marine" paint does contain fungicides and other additives to inhibit algae growth on them.

[br][div align="center"][br][center][br][font color="#3300CC";font face="Roman"; size="+1"][br][br]Terroryes

[Trailerguy]

[font color=green size=3][b]As others have pointed out, bottum paint is normally for boats left in the water a lot. Usually the 1st coat is a bright color like red, then sucessive coats of another color are sprayed on top of it. As time goes by the paint wears off, when the red or 1st coat shows through, it is time for a repaint. But $1400 seems like a lot.

[Spanky]

Thanks for the help. We are going to pass this year & look into painting next spring. After a lot of shopping of course.

[Boatnut]

Spanky,
My aluminum boat stays in the water from around end of april till october. I have no bottom paint on it. It gets a little green on it, but when I notice it affecting performance, I just pull it out, spray it down with vinegar then run it to the carwash and hose it off. Maybe once or twice a season.
Here's a link to some aluminum cleaner I'm considering trying.
http://www.toonbrite.com/alclean.html
Here's another link to a product that's interesting too.
http://www.sharkhide.com/index.htm

[Spanky]

THANKS


Will look into the cleaners. In the mean time will use vinegar.

[Gill]

Gill
"Fish On"

Painting the bottom of your boat may decrease the value if you ever intend to sell it later. It also requires a fresh coating of paint yearly or longer depending on the paint you use. If you are trailering I wouldn't even consider it. Save the money for fuel and tackle. Good luck.

Gill

[Amanda Too]

The only reason I'm bottom painting my hull is because Its fiberglass and I'm afraid of blisters. Aluminum hulls dont really need to be painted. Just pressure blast the hull every 3mos if you dock. Don't bottom paint if you trailer. Paul