Full time fresh water help needed

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:22 pm

I started keeping my 2000 H180 in the water full time. Fresh water florida lake. The white does tend to get stained. I try to scrub the hull down as often as possible but it's starting to get some plant life growing on it that a hand brush can't really remove. What would be the best approach?

Pull out every few months, pressure wash, let dry for a week in the hot FL sun, wax her hull back white, and drop her back in..
or
Barrier coat/bottom paint and never worry again?
or
Wait to find a boat lift on craigslist, the kind that sits on the bottom and you wheel the boat up like this http://orlando.craigslist.org/boa/2490818519.html

I'm getting scared of the famous "blisters" I keep reading about. Currently the hull is in pristine condition, minus said random algae starting to grow on the back transom.

Winter Sux · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:16 pm

Hey ric,
The first and third are good things with the third being the best. As for the botton coat, forget it. I get green afro growing on my anti-fouling paint in a covered slip and lots of time on the lake to clean it off. The paint makes it easier to get it off but there is maintenance every couple of years or so. Sanding and re-painting,,,no fun.

Get the lift and from time to time clean it off. There are good spray on products that help to release the greenies and the pressure washer brings it back like new. Applying the anti-fouling paint requires prepping, which is roughing up the gel coat with sandpaper. If your gel coat is pristine, keep it that way. With a little care, it's the best bottom you can have, for both maintenance and moisture intrusion. If you go with the lift, pop the cork when you're away for a bit. Dry on both sides is the best to prevent those blisters that should be years away yet.

I've had some boats in my time and the ones with gel coat were at the end of the year, the least work when you add it all up.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:39 pm

I am in the ocean, so it becomes worst for me. I bottom paint it with a new coat every year. The first time on a new boat, it takes 2 coats. One hard and one ablative coat, each coat is about 2 to 3 hrs of work and a day to dry. To me, it beats washing it every few weeks. Its not that bad to do! I can give you more info on it, if that what you would like to do. It just depends on, what is good for you.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:59 pm

we're expecting no rain for a few days here in FL so I washed the inside all down this evening and leaving the canvas off with the ski and engine cover open so that the inside of the boat can get drier then it's been in a while.

I have to double check I can get a lift like that with the home owners. Another guy has a floating jet ski dock for his 2 ski's so I think I should be okay

www.iFourWinns.com

Full time fresh water help needed

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