Alternative to Bottom Paint / No Trailering?

RedGST

RedGST

New Member
Nov 2, 2006
102
Lake Michigan
Boat Info
220 Select
Engines
350 MAG Alpha One
Corsa Exhaust
I dont know what forum to post this in, so this was the closest.

Im looking to wet slip my 220 Select this year... but I really dont want to paint the bottom... and I REALLY dont want all the crap to form on it.


So my question is, what are my alternatives?

I've looked at HydroHoists... and have heard some good / some bad. One problem though, is that the Marina that Im looking at does not allow hydro hoists.

I've looked into "Boat Bunkers / Bottom Liners" - They seem good, but I've never really heard of anyone using them.
(www.boatbunkers.com, www.bottomliner.com)

Jet Dock - Marina wont allow.

Does anyone else know of anything that will help me out?

I really dont want to trailer it... as I know that I wont use it as much.

(Unfortunatly, my hydraulic lift marina is closed for good...)

Is there any kinda wax that will keep everything off for the season or something?

Another kind of lift / protection system that Im missing?

Any help is appreciated
Thanks
Jason
 
Jason,

Bizarre as it sounds, water and fiberglass are not compatible. There are two reasons for bottom coating; 1. To keep the marine growth off (aka crud), and 2. protect the fiberglass.

When kept in water full time, water will leach (not sure if this is correct technical term) into the fiberglass. This is turn will result in blistering of the fiberglass.

I know a lot of freshwater boaters don't bottom paint, and keep their boats in the water all season. But that doesn't change anything. My recommendation would be to put a good bottom paint on your boat and enjoy next season.
 
Henry Boyd said:
Jason,

When kept in water full time, water will leach (not sure if this is correct technical term) into the fiberglass. This is turn will result in blistering of the fiberglass.
Click to expand...

I am not sure, but I don't think that is totally true. I have never had personal experience with blisters, but I researched this before I painted my bottom. What I came up with is that blistering will never happen if the boat is built properly. Some companies or some factories didn't use enough resin to bond the fiberglass to itself or the gel coat....... something like that, and you get blisters. Most boats will never blister. Again, I am not sure, but that is what I found in my search. Also, I think water seeps through bottom paint, so the hull doesn't stay dry anyway. The paint just keeps off the growth and other contamination.
 
I do have a marina close by that 'dry docks' - but that really scares me (as I've heard from more than a few boaters that have had to get their boat repaired after the forklift driver ran it into something)... I just dont think thats for me.

A few of the marina's allow Hydro Hoists... granted, not the marina I wanted to go to... and a new Hydro Hoist may be a little out of question price wise...

I may look into an EZ Dock or Jet Dock - as I just found out they do allow these... granted, these also look a little 'pricey'.

The bottom paint idea worries me... just on the fact that A) on a boat my size... its not common to bottom paint... so I know the resale value will depreciate greatly B) dont you have to bottom paint it every year?

I was really hoping to find a material (wax or vinyl coating or something) that could be applied at the beginning of the year... and would last a few months... but there sure doesnt look like anything is proven & available.

I was really just hoping for a better option somehow.
 
RedGST said:
So my question is, what are my alternatives?

I've looked at HydroHoists... and have heard some good / some bad. One problem though, is that the Marina that Im looking at does not allow hydro hoists.
Click to expand...

Red,

Just a point of clarification: when you say your marina won't allow Hydo Hoists, do you mean ALL float based lifts? Hydro Hoist is actually a brand. I used a 6K LB Econolift for my SR 215 EC for 7 years with great success and sold it quickly when I moved up on boats last year.

Typically marinas will not allow any lifts that transfer weight to the dock. Float lifts do not. Of course there is no typical marina. LOL

If they do not allow any float lifts, then in the water with bottom paint or a "drive on lift" seem to be the only option.

Good Luck!

Don H2H
 
Last edited:
Berth Control,

I have been given the same info as you about moisture penetrating the gel coat. And bottom paint only reduces the possibility if it is preceded by a barrier coat. That step is often ommitted in my area.

Recently, I saw a new system of ultrasonic pucks mounted to the inside of the hull to prevent bottom growth. The company claims total success, but I am extremely skeptical.
 
The marina doesnt allow any type of 'air' lift. (Some do have EZ-Docks... but mainly for PWC)

Right now, Im 'leaning' toward attempting the 'bottom liner' option...
I would probably pull the boat out once a month anyway, and clean it / and such... so this may not be a bad idea.

Oddly, I too just recently heard something about the 'ultrasonic' pucks thing.
I'll have to look into that... granted, I too am completely skeptical on that.
 
Well, I've finally narrowed it down to 2 options for now.

1. Trailering... gonna suck... but at least the boat will stay clean, and I wont have to paint it.

2. Airdock system. http://www.airdock.com/
I havent heard too much about them... but they look like a cheap alternative.

My one worry with them, is that if one of the air chambers pops... is my boat going to list off... and possibly sink?




Ugh... this would all be solved if my hydraulic lift marina would reopen... :(
 
The one year I kept my boat at Hammond Marina, algae grabbed onto the hull very quickly. Usually I would try to wash as much off in the lake when we would beach the boat to let the kids play in the sand. I ended up pulling the boat out once a month to really scrub the hull down. It was pretty amazing how much growth would accumulate in a months time. So I just trailer it now.

A good friend of mine has been dry docking his boat in Michigan City for years. It's actually cheaper than having a slip, and anytime he wanted to go out he would call ahead and it would be ready in the water for him. Never had any problems with the marina handling the boat.
 
there is a thread on "bottom pucks" here somewhere, I remember reading it a few weeks ago.

I hate bottom paint as well, but my boat already has it. if there was a viable option to get rid of it, I would
 
Pull your boat every once in awhile,clean it and fill the fuel tank and maybe a short venture to diff. waters..//
 
I agree with above. Other than that, I have not come across anything that will allow you to eliminate bottom paint. There are some newer bottom paints that can be buffed to a gloss, though. You could get white - supposedly, the newer formulations won't turn green; less copper (think Statue of Liberty). If you paint the water line perfectly, or a little shy, you definitely won't have any green. It will only turn green where it contacts air.
 
Well, for now, my option is unfortunately to trailer.
I realize its going to be a PITA... but Im hoping that my marina will be fixed for next year.

If not, I will probably end up rolling the dice and go with the dry dock / storage option for next year. (I heard that a few $10 / $20 bills to the drivers will make sure that your boat stays pristene.... LOL)
 
We use to keep our bowrider in the water (fresh) 6 months out of the year for several years. At the beginning of each season I'd put a couple of coats of wax on the hull. At the end of the season I'd give it a good cleaning and another coat of wax. The hull looks just as good today as it did when we bought it:grin:
 
Well, actually, I may be going back on my earlier plan.

We took a look over at the marina that has dry rack storage.
Although my initial opinion on this was that it would damage our boat... I've come to find out that it actually gets good reviews.

There are a few 'mishaps' (scratches on hull, slight marks) but probably no more that I would do myself trailering it.

I find out today if I get a rack space...

We'll see how it goes

(PS - anyone here that does this - I've heard that 'tipping' the drivers is a good thing... anyone know whats a good monetary amount to 'tip'. Also, are you supposed to tip when they get your boat AND when they put it away? Just curious)
 
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