Bottom Paint (Lake Erie) - To Paint or Not To Paint, That is the question!

[crownline270]

Hello fellow boaters,

We've decide to keep our boat up in Marblehead (Sandusky Bay), Ohio this boating season. A new adventure for us after 14 years of boating on the rivers! We have a 30ft (LOA) trailerable boat that currently does not have the bottom painted. As a rule (pretty anal about this), I pull my boat 2 to 3 times a season to clean the bottom at the marina and back in she goes.

I've notice that all the boats at our new marnina have bottom paint on them,even the runabouts. Do I risk any harm to my boat by not bottom painting her while being kept in Lake Erie? Keep in mind that I'll still be pulling her out a couple times this season to clean the algae off the bottom. The boat is pretty easy to get up on the trailer.

I hate to spend the money on bottom paint if we decide that Lake Erie boating is not for us and come back to the rivers next season. This group has always been great in the advice everyone gives and I thank you for that in advance.

Happy Boating.
John & Janine
"Her Boobs"
Port of Call: Marblehead, Ohio
Bay Point Marina

[bobzeepgh]

Good question.
I don't know the answer, but have often wondered about painting the bottom of my bowrider.
I dock on the Allegheny River and I wonder if it will help keep the algae from sticking, or is it a waste of money?
My boat is all white on the bottom. So, I would go for white paint.
The other problem is, how do you paint it while on the trailer?
I don't see that happening.
I would have to have it lifted by a sling and a crane to paint it properly.

Sounds expensive.

[jbourdage]

I've had both and prefer without the bottom paint. There are real strong cleaners that will get the grime off. Bottom paint on a trailerable boat often makes potential buyers leery that the seller is hiding a problem. The bottom paint has got to be touched up every year or it looks crappy. Definitely have it done the first time professionally - that way you make sure to get the water line. In Canada it was $500.

[Caribhopper]

All of my boats have beem bottom coated. But that was in salt water. I use to paint every 2 to 3 years. Now here on the river was looking at a epoxy type 5 to 6 year paint. I have helped others do this and it was not that bad, yes we did do it on the trailer. Just use stands to lift. Am going to paint my crownline here in the next 2 weeks. I know one thing kept the nasty's off the bottom. Also was easy to clean with the bottom painted.