www.iFourWinns.com

Bottom paint is one of those highly debatable questions... to do it or not to do it... if you do it, what sort of paint do you use... if you don't do it, how bad does your hull look & how fast.

We're mooring the new 318 in fresh water, but will be out in the saltwater for 2-3 days at a time regularly. We travel through a locks system, so the engines will always flush themselves out.

The water is considered freshwater, but I probably wouldn't swim in it as it's a significant area for commercial boating (it's called Lake Union in Seattle).

Everybody I've talked to in Seattle advises me that I should bottom paint OR plan on having the hull cleaned every 4-6 weeks. We don't need to haul out to clean the hull, you just hire a diver to do it at a price of 80-100 dollars.

If we do bottom paint, we obviously don't have to do the regular hull clean. It's expected that we will get 3 good seasons from a good quality application. However, I have also been advised that in some areas of the country, bottom paint will de-value your boat up to 20%. I would say as a general rule, bottom paint does de-value your boat slightly - but not 20% in the Seattle area.

Then there's the whole "what kind of bottom paint do you use".

So here's my question... Do you bottom paint a boat moored in fresh water and just have the hull cleaned, or do you bottom paint it?

If you do bottom paint it, where do you start figuring out what brand/type/style of bottom paint to use?

And... the first time it's done, it's more expensive then future coatings... what's a price-per-foot average for where you guys are from?

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Is there some sort of clear bottom paint that you can use, or some sort of coating as an alternative?

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

I can't believe it would devalue your boat to have bottom paint. When we were looking bottom paint would have been a real plus, now we have to have it done before next summer.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

If you are keeping your boat in the water all season, absolutely have it bottom painted. It will protect your investment and be worth the initial expense in the long run. Chosing a paint is easy, just pick one. have it barrier coated first, then apply the bottom paint color of your choice. I have seen several boats with the white bottom paint, and it looks like crap after only a few weeks in the water. I would go with a black paint on your boat. Interlux makes some high quality bottom paint in a variety of colors and types. VC-17 is very popular, looks copper colored until it has been in the water for some time, then turns dark.

Yachtpaint has alot of info, and you can answer your own question there.

http://www.yachtpaint.com/usa/default.asp

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Is a barrier coat considered standard for the initial application, or do most places not use a barrier coat?

Doing some research... apparently the Pettit Hydrocoat is fairly popular in the Seattle area --a good ablative that seems to last a couple of seasons -- and it's fairly affordable (around 120/gallon).

I haven't heard much about barrier coatings though... is that really needed with the quality of today's hulls and gelcoats?

I presume it's just to slow down the absorption of water into the fiberglass?

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I didn't paint the bottom of my 298 Vista for almost a year so that I could get a good stain showing the water line for painting purposes. I was slipped by some POS houseboat that leaked oil (and God knows what else) and it stained it up in no time.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Seahorse is correct, the white hull stains really fast, our 318 does not have bottom paint as it is kept on a lift but it still gets discolored from sitting in salt water over a weekend. The lemon juice bath is a pain. If it is going to sit in the water fresh or salt I would paint it to protect the investment.

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2008 318 Vista "Ka-wai-ola"
350 MPI/BravoIII DTS Seacore
2006 1500 Key West -70 Yamaha
Previous Boats
Key West 2300CC
Pacemaker 270 Sport Fish
290 Sea Ray

Cougar,
You can just get some of these, and not have to worry about bottom paint.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

HOLY !*!*!*! -- that's AWESOME!

Except, I would then be too tall for the covered slip.

Looks like bottom paint is the winner. When I haul her out for the 25 hour service, she'll get a full treatment of Interlux BottomKote w/ Ingarol. Seems to last most people out here 3-4 seasons with regular use of the boat.

I'm still debating on the "barrier coat". I know Four Winns (and most new manufacturers) do a barrier in their hull mold process. I've heard some people out here... for whatever reason... have had issues with the barrier coat not adhering to the fiberglass very well. I would think that would chalk up to a poor prep job -- but it's come from multiple sources.

Bottom paint is a winner... now the barrier coat issue. Only about 50% of the people here seem to do it according to the local boat yards (I've called 5).

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

We just did bottom paint on our Vista, no barrier coat. Was told the same that a barrier is not necessary.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Be sure to have your outdrives painted also...even the Ocean Series...there is a clear coat that works well in keeping growth and barnacles off the drives.

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Joe B.
Ruff'N It 4
2011 Regal 42 SC

Previous
2008 FW V358
2006 FW V318
2004 FW V288

Any idea what the clear cost is called? We have an Ocean Drive and cleaning it is tough.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Cougar this is what I have in my back yard for the 318 would something like this fit?

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2008 318 Vista "Ka-wai-ola"
350 MPI/BravoIII DTS Seacore
2006 1500 Key West -70 Yamaha
Previous Boats
Key West 2300CC
Pacemaker 270 Sport Fish
290 Sea Ray

I strongly suggest the barrier coat. I was just over at the boat barn looking at a newer Sea Ray 390 that is all blistered. They are looking at a couplel thousand bucks to have the pits ground out, dried, filled, etc. Needless to say, they are planning on B/C after the repair. Here in Michigan B/C adds resale value. Interlud is a good one. My 298 was rack stored since new until I bought it. I put it in the water for 3 days so I could see the line. Then pulled it and put on Awlgrip's Hull Guard followed by their AwlStar Gold bottom paint in navy blue. I added about two inches to the waterline to account for all the gear weight I knew would be added. I also followed the water line forward to the bow and changed the boot stripe to the same angle. I see a lot of boats where they don't change the stripe and it tends to look goofy. I've got some photos in a camera I'll post later.

PS: The AwlGrip combo is what Tiara uses exclusively.