Painting The Bottom for the first Time

[spiderhammer69]

I just got 1986 210 that’s never been in salt water. The boat in excellent shape like it’s never really been used at all. A neighbor who captains a 42 ft boat suggested I paint it with Micron CSC antifouling paint. He said I need to put it the water to find the water line. Is there any other way or formula to figure this out? And any feed back on this paint.

 

[H2ONUT]

Are you leaving it in a slip or trailering it??
If trailering, no need to paint the bottom.

And yes, floating is the only way I know of to find the waterline.

 

[rondds]

you MUST get the waterline right. make sure you have full fuel and gear (or at least a representative amount of stuff). maybe leave the boat in the water a couple of days to get a mild scumline scribed. you also have to prep the bottom with an etchant first. i forget what it's called but they probably sell it in the marine supply stores.

i had two naked fiberglass boat bottoms painted professionally and both times they screwed up the water line (marked it too low so i got a scum line on the gel coat). one (my brand spankin new crownline), i had the dealer take the boat back and re-do it. the other (19' regal) i re-did it myself with the leftover etchant the painter guy gave me.

 

[spiderhammer69]

Sorry I didn't reply. Been off line for a while. Thanks for all the input. I got it about 2in above water and used 202 boat wash to clean the hull. Not bad for the frist time. :thumbsup: