Bottom paint helps protect your boat and improve its lifespan. It’s an important aspect of boat maintenance and it is possible to do without hiring a professional.
We’ve created the following beginner’s guide to applying bottom paint. If you have any questions or want to explore boats for sale, head over to RVs and Boats for Less. Our dealership is located in Chubbuck, Idaho, and we also proudly serve those in Idaho Falls and Pocatello.
Understanding The Important Of Bottom Paint
If you are questioning whether you need to pursue this maintenance step, the answer is: you do!
Bottom paint, also called antifouling paint, is a valuable investment. As the name implies, it gets placed at the bottom of the boat’s hull. When a boat spends a lot of time in the water, it faces a higher risk of marine growth. For example, barnacles and weeds can start attaching themselves to the vessel and can eventually cause damage. Bottom paint prevents this through its use of a biocide agent, which discourages marine life from sticking onto your boat.
Precautions To Take
Some of the materials in the process can be toxic. Plus, it can be a time intensive project. If you want to get this done at a boatyard, it’s important to chat with the property owners or managers first. Find out where they will let you work and see if they require you to take any safety precautions. Make sure everyone is on the same page before you begin.
The Necessary Supplies
The first item to get, of course, is the bottom paint. There are a few considerations to make when picking out the paint.
First, take into account the existing paint on your boat. Make sure any bottom paint you purchase is compatible with the current paint. Some bottom paint manufacturers provide charts that help you pick.
Second, think about where your boat is at. Factor in the type of waterway, the common weather conditions, and other context that influences the ideal bottom paint match.
Third, account for any environmental concerns. Not all bottom paint options are great for the environment. You can always ask the boatyard manager for suggestions. They should have more information about environmental concerns.
Other supplies include:
- Trays
- Chip brushes
- Rollers
- Blue masking tape
- A painter’s suite
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Respirator or dust mask
The Project Timeline
It’s important to be realistic about the time investment. Expect to spend a few days at least.
Boat Preparations
Take a minute to get your boat ready for the bottom paint application. Take the vessel out of the water and, before any grime can harden, rinse it off with a pressure washer.
Next, sand the topcoat down. Be sure to follow the instructions on the compatibility chart that you are using. When paint is too thick, the top layer could flake off. Next, add masking tape to the borders of where you will be painting (in other words, the water line).
Bottom Paint Application
Start with a chip brush and focus on the areas that a roller can’t get. That way, you won’t get dripped on when you later use the roller. It’s best to add at least two layers of paint and a third layer in high-wear spots.
Different paints will have different drying times. Some need at least 16 hours to dry! The drying time will also be influenced by humidity and temperature. You may only be able to apply one or two coats a day, which is partly why this project takes so much time.
After the painting is complete, remove the masking tape and put the boat back into the water. Now you can rest assured that your boat’s hull will be protected for years to come!
We hope you found this guide useful. For more maintenance tips or to shop boats for sale, visit RVs and Boats for Less. Our friendly staff can help with whatever you need, from answering questions to giving advice. We also run a service department and offer parts replacement, making it easy to keep your boat running well. You’ll find us in Chubbuck, Idaho. We also proudly serve those in Idaho Falls and Pocatello.
