Bottom paint

[Golf Ranger]

I’m looking to move from fresh to saltwater this fall. Will sanding the bottom void any warranty?

 

[Submariner]

I’m looking to move from fresh to saltwater this fall. Will sanding the bottom void any warranty?

To bottom paint the boat correctly, it's required that the bottom be completely sanded. Bottom paint won't stick very well to smooth gelcoat.

Here's a video of what happened to a boat I know, that had bottom paint applied to a brand new boat, with zero prep work on the hull.

Bottom Paint Fail

Here's the correct way to bottom paint a boat.
Avoid Costly Mistakes: The Correct Way to Apply Bottom Paint on your Boat.

 

[Lake Effect]

What does it cost to bottom paint a RT 25?
2 primer coats and 3 Petit coats?

 

[Submariner]

What does it cost to bottom paint a RT 25?
2 primer coats and 3 Petit coats?

I would expect bottom paint to cost around $3k. Could be $4k. Depends on who does it. The initial bottom paint costs more, as the hull must be prepped (sanded lightly) so the paint will stick. Subsequent bottom paint, every couple of years is slightly less expensive than the first application. The paint costs about $300 a gallon. There's enough paint in a gallon to do a R27 hull with two coats with a little left over.

In the boat fail video I posted above, bottom paint was applied onto gelcoat without any prep work at all on an R27. To fix it, all that original bottom paint had to be sanded off, down to the gelcoat, then a couple coats of primer, and a couple coats of bottom paint. This is not normal. The bill was $7k.

 

[kermitonbi1]

I just got my R23's bottom paint redone @ Agate Pass Marine on Bainbridge Island. They removed the original, sprayed two coats of primer, and two coats of Pettit Trinidad HD. It cost about $4,000. They can haul out any trailerable boat. Great service and shop if your in the region.

Home - Boat Bottom Painting | Agate Pass Marine

Agate Pass Marine specializes in the antifoul painting of trailerable boatsand we cater to boat owners that want their bottom jobs done correctly.

agatepassmarine.com

Prepped for paint:

 

[EpicMale]

I just got my R23's bottom paint redone @ Agate Pass Marine on Bainbridge Island. They removed the original, sprayed two coats of primer, and two coats of Pettit Trinidad HD. It cost about $4,000. They can haul out any trailerable boat. Great service and shop if your in the region.

Home - Boat Bottom Painting | Agate Pass Marine

Agate Pass Marine specializes in the antifoul painting of trailerable boatsand we cater to boat owners that want their bottom jobs done correctly.

agatepassmarine.com

Prepped for paint:
View attachment 26227

I had no idea one could suspend a boat of this size in that manner! Reminds me of the Sword of Damacles!

 

[PanaSeaAh]

2009 R25. Although in fresh water, I had to have the bottom paint redone two years ago because it had been applied when new, and then incorrectly recoated twice. Paint was thick, peeling down to original coat and different colors. Poor or no bond because of improper prep. Trailered and fresh water, so growth was not an issue. (If I had bought the boat new, I would NOT have applied bottom paint)
I had the boat soda blasted instead of sanded, epoxy primer sealed, then two coats of ablative bottom paint. The soda blast worked great. All old paint removed, gelcoat intact but no gloss, good grip for the new barrier coat, and areas around the hardware, fittings, etc. very clean. This can be done wet or dry, determined by conditions and location. Proper taping is everything to get a neat, finished job. Cost approximately $3600 two years ago. Bottom paint was about $290 / gal.