On Water Slip Storage/Boat Covers - The Hull Truth

justinmackovyak · 08-03-2009, 08:32 AM

Hey All,
I currently keep my boat on trailer and stored at Fairwinds Marina in Annapolis. I'm considering going to a slip as it's getting to be a pain ramping all of the time. (20' Cuddy w/ a Jeep). They have some openings there now for the rest of the season on. A few questions as I'm new to the salt water and to slip storage.

1. Would it be necessary to paint the bottom for just the rest of this season? Everyone tells me bottom painting is necessary, but considering that it would be only for Mid-August/September, I'm not sure if I could get by the rest of the season without paint.

2. Is there anything else I need to consider for water storage? Stainless Prop?

On a side note, does anyone know of a good place to do custom button covers from the windshield back on a cuddy? This is the first cuddy I've dealt with and am trying to get something other than my full boat cover. What's a typical price for something like that?

Thanks,

Justin

ss3964spd · 08-03-2009, 08:42 AM

Justin,

From what I've read, and in my short experience, it's definately preferable to avoid painting the bottom. I have my boat at a marina on the South River and pay for a slip but I rarely leave the boat in the water - I still put it back on the trailer and leave it in the marina lot. The couple of times I've left it in the water over night (basically in on Sat morning and out Sunday eve) there was noticable accumlation.

If I'm you, and since you only have a few more months to deal with, I'd keep pulling it out and not paint the bottom. Re-assess your situation next season.

Regarding the cockpit cover - I don't know, I'm looking for the same.

Regards,

Dan

SB62 · 08-03-2009, 09:12 AM

Justin,

I live in Annapolis and keep my boat at Jabin's on Back Creek. I forget where Fairwinds is...on the Magothy, I think? Anyhow, my boat WITH good fresh bottom paint (Micron CSC) gets slimy in a week on Back Creek. If I didn't take it out every 6-10 days or so and run it at 20 knts to scrub everything off, it would be a total mess in 2 weeks. And that's WITH bottom paint. Without bottom paint, I can't imagine how clogged up and slimy it would get in short order.

Now, if you're on the Magothy, it might be a little less bad up there, but not much. If you keep it in the water w/ bare gelcoat, no paint, you'd have to be cleaning it thoroughly every 3-4 days, in my opinion.

And unfortunately, bottom painting a boat for the first time is an expensive, fairly challenging project best left to the pro's. To do it right, you've got to de-wax the gelcoat, sand everything with at least 80 grit, put on a two-part barrier coat, and then finally 1-2 coats of the antifouling paint.

Regarding canvas of any kind, there's one place that can't be beat: ACYC in Annapolis. Ask for Dan. They are really good.

http://annapolis-custom-yacht-canvas.com/

Good luck,
Rob

justinmackovyak · 08-03-2009, 10:21 AM

Thanks for the info. If I got the bottom painted now, would it last through next season or is it something that would need re-done in the spring?

We use the boat on a weekly basis.

SB62 · 08-03-2009, 11:35 AM

I think a well-done bottom painting job, depending on the paint chosen, should be good for at least one complete season. Some paint co's, and boat owners, claim that they can get two seasons out of a two-coat paint job. At worst, you might have to touch it up at the beginning of season two. So, if you get it done now, you should be fine until well into next year.

I have touched mine up w/ a brush once or twice, when I've occasionally had it on the trailer for a road trip. Places where it got a little scraped here and there. But in general, the bottom looks the same as when it was first painted in April. What I've learned is: A) take it out for a full-speed run weekly, to keep it scrubbed off naturally. B) The transom, transducer, trim tabs, etc. are the problem spot, since they don't get the same frictional workout as the bottom/sides on a speed run. C) right around the waterline, at the interface between the bottom paint and air, can get a little discolored over time.

Next spring I will probably do a full new coat of paint, even though I could get another season out of what's there. Mostly because I don't like the color I chose (Shark Gray Micron CSC). I will be going w/ green or blue next season. (Boat is the classic "Fighting Lady Yellow" )

Good luck -
Rob