Do I need bottom protection in fresh water?

Flytrade

Active Member
Feb 20, 2018
302
Bradenton, FL
Boat Info
2006 320 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 6.2L Mercruiser
I'm purchasing an 06 32 Sundancer that has been kept on a lift, so the bottom has never been painted. I live on a fresh water canal and plan to keep the boat behind my house, in the fresh water - not on a lift.
I tried this on a previous boat - not a Sea Ray - and eventually got blisters. Will this happen with my Sundancer, or is this get coat better able to stand the fresh water without blistering?
 
Whether or not the bottom is "better able to stand the fresh water" seems immaterial. And maybe someone could say that a Sea Ray is built well and the gel coat is better. Again, so what?
Basic question is would you rather save the time/money of coating & painting now only to have a much larger bill later if the bottom blisters? And how often would you wonder whether there's an issue and check the bottom?
An epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint is relatively cheap insurance that also removes the worry. Done right, you'll have years of protection that only needs an occasional powerwash. We did ours four years ago and the dozen or so barnacles that don't come off with a wash can be knocked off with a credit card.
 
You can still get growth on the bottom in fresh water that will require periodic cleaning by hauling and pressure washing or a diver cleaning in the water. Consider a modified epoxy like Vivid. It will keep the bottom clean of growth and protect from blisters. You should get 5 years from the paint if applied correctly. Cheap insurance.
 
There are a handful of boats in my marina that are not bottom painted. Mostly in the sub 30' range. These are the guys that can and will put their boats on a trailer 3 or 4 times per summer to clean the bottom off. It only takes a matter of days before the bottom starts to look pretty gnarly, even in fresh water. But it can be cleaned off with some effort.

I'd personally paint it. A 32 deserves a nicely painted bottom :)
 
Not clear where you are located, but even up here in cooler waters we get slime and algae buildup as well as staining (cosmetic). I would not be worried about blisters, but the slime and algae will cause drag and increase fuel consumption. If you have outdrives, you risk damage with the periodic acid washes that will be needed to keep the bottom clean. IMO, get it painted.

On another note, when you go to sell, the buyer will “price in” the cost of bottom painting in what you will be able to sell it for. So you are paying for it one way or the other. You might as well enjoy the benefits while you own it.
 
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We kept a Boston Whaler and a 26 foot Sea Ray in the water without bottom paint for many years. As mentioned above the growth starts quickly. Since we have a sandy beach at our house, we were able to beach them and scrub them with a long handled brush a couple of times a month to keep the water lines and smiles clean. The Whaler would clean up nicely at the end of the season with just an acid wash. The SR developed a brown stain on the bottom that was permanent, although it did not blister. The Whaler did not blister either. Most smaller boats here are not bottom painted.
 
I would bottom paint it. You will be constantly fighting the slime and brown ring at the water line. On our lake most boats that stay in the water are bottom painted. I personally think bottom paint looks better on a larger boat.
 
Thanks for all the replies, but slime, scum, etc. is not a problem. I live on a fresh water canal, and have to use a lift to take the boat to the salt water. On my previous boat I got no slime, etc. at all, and a little hull cleaner when using the lift kept the hull looking brand new. So, the only issue in my mind is if I will eventually develop blisters. If not, it stays and looks like new.
 
I didn't bottom paint my 280DA, it was slipped, No blister problems. I don't need bottom paint where I boat, if a potential buyer does need that modification that's his problem...I ain't paying for it.
 
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Thanks for all the replies, but slime, scum, etc. is not a problem. I live on a fresh water canal, and have to use a lift to take the boat to the salt water. On my previous boat I got no slime, etc. at all, and a little hull cleaner when using the lift kept the hull looking brand new. So, the only issue in my mind is if I will eventually develop blisters. If not, it stays and looks like new.
What kind of fresh water does not produce slime? Do you boat in an area where the water is very cold or has a high natural copper level? Where will the boat be located geographically?
 
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Paint the bottom, I live in fresh water area and a friend put a new Carolina Skiff in for the summer. Guess what happened when he pulled it out?? BLISTER CITY!!!!
 
View attachment 70536 We kept a Boston Whaler and a 26 foot Sea Ray in the water without bottom paint for many years. As mentioned above the growth starts quickly. Since we have a sandy beach at our house, we were able to beach them and scrub them with a long handled brush a couple of times a month to keep the water lines and smiles clean. The Whaler would clean up nicely at the end of the season with just an acid wash. The SR developed a brown stain on the bottom that was permanent, although it did not blister. The Whaler did not blister either. Most smaller boats here are not bottom painted.
Is a 320 considered a smaller boat now?? lol
 
Maybe, but why would you take the chance? If it is lift kept I'd say NO to the bottom paint
My 420DA is painted, not a barrier coat.

If you're talking blisters it's a barrier coat and if you have slime/growth worries you'd be adding bottom paint over that. SeaRay doesn't put a barrier coat on their boats as far as I know. If blistering was a true worry you'd think they'd be covering themselves by applying it to start with. My 270SD and 280DA were slipped and never developed any blisters which I think is typical of their boats of the last 20-25 years.

Another thing is what you do with your boat. If you want to increase your chance of blisters start sliding it in on the beaches and bars. Nick it up a little and help the water intrusion, barrier coat won't prevent that.
 
Hes asking about blisters...not the water quality, staining, scum, barnacles, or oil slicks. Keep your $.02.
 
It would be highly unlikely to get any blisters. Gelcoat formulations have changed tremendously over the year and it's all but non-existant from better companies. Lot's and lot's of Sea Ray's are left in the water for the season in fresh water areas with no bottom paint. With the rarest of exceptions, they all stay blister free. Maybe an occasional, tiny one here or there - but nothing that would warrant painting. Can't hurt to do it, obviously, but from my experiences, I would consider it unnecessary.

I'm also curious what type of water you have the boat in where you don't get slime or ring-around-the-boat? Unless you use it quite often?
 
I thought bottom Paint was standard on the 320. It was in 2003 anyway. As everyone has stated get her painted. BTW inspect for blisters if in fact the bottom has never been painted.
 

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