Recommendation for bottom of the Boat Protection

S

Sundancer280

New Member
Sep 7, 2021
29
Boat Info
2005 Sea Ray 280 Sundancer Twin 4.7 Mercury Engines
Engines
4.7 Mercury Twin Engines
Good afternoon fellow boaters,

Just a quick question--last year, my boat couldn't plane out. After getting some advice on this site, I was told to clean the bottom of the boat from the algae. You guys were absolutely right! After cleaning it, it drove with no issues and planed out within seconds. So, now I'm looking for some suggestions. Our marina is forcing us to drop the boat in the water next week (Cleveland--Lake Erie). The problem is that, because I'm so busy with work, I will not be able to drive it for a few months. I wanted to buy something to coat the bottom of the boat that would prevent algae growth before I put it in the water. I went on Amazon and found two products.
"Aurora Bottom Coat VS721 Protect Boat Bottoms" and also found "Aurora Marina VS721 Fouling Release Kit".

As this is only my second year boating, I didn't know whether these products will actually do the job. Do you guys know or use any products that would help prevent algae growth since it'll be docked for a few months without driving it? If you guys think these products would do the job, then I'll go ahead and purchase them and coat the bottom of the boat with the products from amazon. Otherwise, I'm going to take your recommendation and follow through with that!

Thanks!
 
That looks more like a wax? If these actually worked at keeping the gunk off the bottoms or our boats I'd imagine none of us would have fully painted bottoms? Color me a skeptic.

I slip not too far from a guy that does not have a painted bottom. Rather than have the boat pulled he simply anchors off a sandbar 3-4 times per summer and spends the afternoon scrubbing the bottom himself. Short of properly painting the bottom ($$$'s) I'm not sure how else you'll get around this issue.
 
Stee6043 said:
That looks more like a wax? If these actually worked at keeping the gunk off the bottoms or our boats I'd imagine none of us would have fully painted bottoms? Color me a skeptic.

I slip not too far from a guy that does not have a painted bottom. Rather than have the boat pulled he simply anchors off a sandbar 3-4 times per summer and spends the afternoon scrubbing the bottom himself. Short of properly painting the bottom ($$$'s) I'm not sure how else you'll get around this issue.
Click to expand...
Thanks for getting back to me! So the boat is actually painted on the bottom (it was done two years ago). However, I still had the algae issue last season regardless of the painted bottom.
 
Sundancer280 said:
Thanks for getting back to me! So the boat is actually painted on the bottom (it was done two years ago). However, I still had the algae issue last season regardless of the painted bottom.
Click to expand...

Hmm...do you know what kind of paint they used?
 
So with a painted boat, get a good ablative bottom paint. If there is a west marine, go and check it out. They’ll have something.

But the next question is why are they making you launch. Can’t they just block you up in the yard to give you time to do the job properly?
 
Stee6043 said:
Hmm...do you know what kind of paint they used?
Click to expand...
To be honest, I'm unsure. I couldn't tell if it was anti-fouling paint or not. I just didn't know if there was any coatings that I can use before dropping it in the water that would do a decent job. You might be right though, it's a wax and I just don't think that'll do it.
 
Golfman25 said:
So with a painted boat, get a good ablative bottom paint. If there is a west marine, go and check it out. They’ll have something.

But the next question is why are they making you launch. Can’t they just block you up in the yard to give you time to do the job properly?
Click to expand...

Okay perfect! I found this link:
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west...MI4pjfsuDc9gIVoxx9Ch1JRQ5-EAQYBCABEgL6KPD_BwE

So my best bet is to go with anti-fouling paint, not any wax or sprays, correct?

To answer your second question, I have no idea why they're being weird about launching early. I asked if they can block me up in the yard and they said that they'll be able to give me a 2 weeks tops. Haha they're killing me man.
 
The best paint in the world isn't going to keep the growth off as well as using the boat.
I know you said that will be tough for you but that's the way it is.
Sounds like a trailer or a boat lift would be in your best interest.
Leaving a boat in the water for 3 months unattended (by you personally) isn't the best idea anyhow.
 
techmitch said:
The best paint in the world isn't going to keep the growth off as well as using the boat.
I know you said that will be tough for you but that's the way it is.
Sounds like a trailer or a boat lift would be in your best interest.
Leaving a boat in the water for 3 months unattended (by you personally) isn't the best idea anyhow.
Click to expand...

He is in the cold great lakes though. We don't get that much growth, even stationary.
 
Stee6043 said:
He is in the cold great lakes though. We don't get that much growth, even stationary.
Click to expand...
True, but I remember his thread from last year that he referenced in his first post of this thread where he couldn't get on plane until he had the bottom cleaned because it had a lot of growth/slime on it so it's getting on there some how. Gotta use it man.
 
Sundancer280 said:
Okay perfect! I found this link:
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west...MI4pjfsuDc9gIVoxx9Ch1JRQ5-EAQYBCABEgL6KPD_BwE

So my best bet is to go with anti-fouling paint, not any wax or sprays, correct?

To answer your second question, I have no idea why they're being weird about launching early. I asked if they can block me up in the yard and they said that they'll be able to give me a 2 weeks tops. Haha they're killing me man.
Click to expand...
That's the stuff I used last year. Worked pretty well.
 
If you want know if the paint currently on the bottom of the boat is ablative just lightly rub a wet sponge on the paint. If the paint is ablative it will transfer to the sponge.
And growth in Lake Erie is a problem , just ask the city of Toledo…
 
I use this stuff in Erie ….. end of the season I still get bugs hitting the windshield :)

CF3D9F74-C1F6-4D61-BAB8-D7EA8D17DE8C.jpeg
 
I live at the other end of lake Erie and if I was forced to launch now I would find another marina.

Have a good ablative paint and launch the boat when you are ready to use it.

Even though it is fresh water, bottom fouling is quite real.
 
My boat was OEM with Hydrocoat as I understand, but since I bought her, I have used Aquaguard. I get about 3 years out of a coating before it needs to be redone. No significant algae build up at all. And our marina is very warm fertile fresh water.
If your boat is bare glass, you will want to prime with a barrier/primer and then bottom paint. Get the pros to do it it the first time, and then DIY every 3-4 years or so after that. This stuff is about C$200/gal and I can retop the hull with one gallon if its not too bad.
AquaGard-Paint_1gallon-MED.jpg
 
Creekwood said:
My boat was OEM with Hydrocoat as I understand, but since I bought her, I have used Aquaguard. I get about 3 years out of a coating before it needs to be redone. No significant algae build up at all. And our marina is very warm fertile fresh water.
Click to expand...
Ru you saying your water is more fertile then my water ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,253
Messages
1,429,370
Members
61,132
Latest member
MinecraftRu1Swilm
Back
Top