Painting the underside of a swim platform?

dtfeld

Water Contrails
GOLD Sponsor
Jun 5, 2016
5,519
Milton, GA
Boat Info
410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
Engines
Cat 3126 V-Drives
While I have the boat out (again...), I'm contemplating painting the underside of the swim platform. Its looking pretty Sh***y. I'm not sure what type of coating was there originally, but I hit it with a sander today, and a lot of it was loose and flake off, while some of it was well adhered still. It may be gel coat.

Bottom of Swim Platform.jpg


I was thinking about sanding and adding a coat of paint. A couple questions

1. Can it be done attached, or would it be better/easier to pull it, turn it over and p[aint?

2. Once sanded and prepped, what type of paint?
 
While I have the boat out (again...), I'm contemplating painting the underside of the swim platform. Its looking pretty Sh***y. I'm not sure what type of coating was there originally, but I hit it with a sander today, and a lot of it was loose and flake off, while some of it was well adhered still. It may be gel coat.

View attachment 122287

I was thinking about sanding and adding a coat of paint. A couple questions

1. Can it be done attached, or would it be better/easier to pull it, turn it over and p[aint?

2. Once sanded and prepped, what type of paint?
I would probably go with some white bilge coat or topside paint.
 
I paint mine with bottom paint, but on a 400db, it’s in the water most of the time anyway.
360 was not painted with anything.
 
I'm thinking a flat white...
If you use one of the ones I mentioned it will clean up a lot easier than anything flat and stay clean a lot longer.
PS white and glossy will also reflect/act as a globe for your newly installed underwater lights.
 
Last edited:
I would probably go with some white bilge coat or topside paint.

Can you be more specific? I see 1 part polyurethanes, enamels epoxy I'm thinking Sea Rays of my vintage were an off white or Oyster White. I usually leave the painting to my wife.

I've been watching a lot of Boat Works Today, he's big on Total Boat products.

The Total Bilge Epoxy is in a standard white...

upload_2022-3-10_19-30-58.png
 
Can you be more specific? I see 1 part polyurethanes, enamels epoxy I'm thinking Sea Rays of my vintage were an off white or Oyster White. I usually leave the painting to my wife.

I've been watching a lot of Boat Works Today, he's big on Total Boat products.

The Total Bilge Epoxy is in a standard white...

View attachment 122296
https://www.interlux.com/en/us/boat-paint/topcoat-finish/bilgekote

Scratch the Topside stuff, as they nix the below the water line thing and although you don't sit that low it's an no go for me.
As for pulling the platform, an earlier post asked if the platform was stock or an up grade and questioned the attaching hardware as do I.

To satisfy your normal attention to detail expressed on CSR on your other projects, I see a future haul out (yes again) to pull the platform, flip it over, light blast and prep, followed a nice gelcoat spray and some wax.
 
https://www.interlux.com/en/us/boat-paint/topcoat-finish/bilgekote

Scratch the Topside stuff, as they nix the below the water line thing and although you don't sit that low it's an no go for me.
As for pulling the platform, an earlier post asked if the platform was stock or an up grade and questioned the attaching hardware as do I.

To satisfy your normal attention to detail expressed on CSR on your other projects, I see a future haul out (yes again) to pull the platform, flip it over, light blast and prep, followed a nice gelcoat spray and some wax.

While I appreciate the compliment, this may have to be a "quick and dirty fix". I don't have unlimited time in the yard. Likely a good sanding, wipe down and a couple coats. Like most paint jobs, I'm trying to hide the worst of the defects.
 
Was that platform added at some point?

My 98 290 DA has some serious stainless steel bolts and square washers holding on its platform

I believe this was original to the boat.
 
While I appreciate the compliment, this may have to be a "quick and dirty fix". I don't have unlimited time in the yard. Likely a good sanding, wipe down and a couple coats. Like most paint jobs, I'm trying to hide the worst of the defects.
I think that bilge coat will put you where you want to be. With some good prep focused on adhesion it will be a rewarding fairly quick project. Hotdog and other sized rollers with a coarse nap will be your friend.
 
I ordered 2 Qts of TotalBoat Epoxy Bilge paint in white off Amazon with a Sunday Delivery. West Marine had nothing in stock anywhere and everything else was about a 1 week delivery. I need to be back in the water Tuesday.

I think it will be a huge improvement.

Now I need to get to work!!
 
Interlux VC Performance Epoxy - I did some epoxy (fiberglass) structural repairs to the tabs on my 370 DA swim platform 12 years ago and coated them with VC Performance Epoxy. It has held up exceptional and is a great product for the underside of a swim platform. Available in white only. It is a two part epoxy.

https://www.interlux.com/en/us/boat-paint/antifouling/vc-performance-epoxy
 
Interlux VC Performance Epoxy - I did some epoxy (fiberglass) structural repairs to the tabs on my 370 DA swim platform 12 years ago and coated them with VC Performance Epoxy. It has held up exceptional and is a great product for the underside of a swim platform. Available in white only. It is a two part epoxy.

https://www.interlux.com/en/us/boat-paint/antifouling/vc-performance-epoxy

That looks like some pretty tough stuff. Expensive!! If I were pulling the platform off, I think this would be a good option. In a good, better, best scenario this looks to be in the Best category.

I already ordered the TotalBoat, and hoping its a good to better solution.

Were going to find out!
 
Here's a prep question for you paint experts.

The TotalBoat DeWaxer & Surface Prep is a mixture of Naphtha, Isopropyl Alcohol and Xylene.

upload_2022-3-11_7-27-45.png




I have acetone on hand. Looks like Naphtha available locally and I have some Isopropyl Alcohol, on hand.

Should I use acetone, or mix up my own home brew prep solution?

I would think acetone would work just fine.
 

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