Bottom maintenance advice

[green]

My new-to-me 2005 26M has been in a slip in NC near the ICW since May 2021 when the previous owner got the boat. Prior to this it was stored in a warehouse. The PO is not certain when the bottom was last painted, but he guesses that the paint was a few years old as of May 2021.

In August I'm planning to bring it inland where it will live on a trailer when not in use on local lakes and the occasional drive to the coast. I want to have the bottom cleaned before I head inland on the trailer. I think I need to get the bottom painted as well.

Here's a very novice question: Do I need to have it hauled out and cleaned since it's been sitting for so long, or should I be ok to pull it out myself onto the trailer and then take it for cleaning/painting?

[green]

I suppose I should also ask: do I need it painted in the first place if I am taking it inland where it will live on a trailer when not in use?

Could I just take it out myself and power wash it?

[DaveC426913]

A̶ ̶d̶a̶i̶l̶y̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶h̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶s̶o̶a̶p̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶a̶t̶e̶r̶,̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶w̶i̶p̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶e̶c̶h̶n̶i̶q̶u̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶l̶i̶t̶t̶l̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶b̶y̶ ̶p̶o̶w̶d̶e̶r̶.̶

Sorry, I misunderstood the topic.

[Russ]

Don't need paint. Especially if it's not staying in the water.

My boat is in fresh water. Has no paint on the bottom. Is in a slip all summer long. I power wash with a brush to get rid of the crud at the end of the season.

[Stickinthemud57]

I agree with Russ that a boat not kept in the water needs no bottom paint.

As far as cleaning goes, I have found that the easiest way is to use a 6" plastic scraper (putty/drywall knife) right after pulling the boat out of the water. Wet algae comes of very easy. I tried power washing, but that took off the bottom paint. The plastic scraper (followed by a wipe with a wet towel) did not.

[Be Free]

If it is not going to stay in the water it does not need bottom paint. It won't hurt if it's painted, but it's not needed.

[dlandersson]

Ditto - but. IF you have the opportunity, it's not a bad idea (best practice) to do the paint and antifoul of the hull - because you never know what the future holds. Plus you'll get/have a really good working knowledge of your hull.

I agree with Russ that a boat not kept in the water needs no bottom paint.

As far as cleaning goes, I have found that the easiest way is to use a 6" plastic scraper (putty/drywall knife) right after pulling the boat out of the water. Wet algae comes of very easy. I tried power washing, but that took off the bottom paint. The plastic scraper (followed by a wipe with a wet towel) did not.

[green]

Thanks for the advice. I'll use the plastic scraper for now and put the $$ towards a few other things I want to do.

[Stickinthemud57]

Thanks for the advice. I'll use the plastic scraper for now and put the $$ towards a few other things I want to do.

You're welcome!

I was really surprised how well it worked for me, but I would say my conditions were ideal: Right out of the water, and thick enough growth that it just came right off in glops. If you run into trouble, just make sure everything has been wet (and kept wet) well enough that it doesn't start to dry out. Also, don't use a metal scraper. I found that it took paint off.

There are products that purport to make cleaning algae easier. Deck cleaner is good too.

Good luck!

[green]

Thanks. More dumb questions:

What's the ramp/parking lot etiquette for this type of scraping? Do I collect everything I scrape in trash bags, or just let nature deal with it?

[Russ]

It will take weeks to develop slime on the bottom normally.

[green]

It’s been in the water for more than a year.

[kurz]

If you redo antofouling, think about copper coat.

I have it since more than 7 years, boat is 365days/year in the water... Nothing to do since then... So this AF will hold many years on...

[Gotro]

You will know how much work needs to be done after you clean the bottom. My boat 26x sat in fresh water lake for 9 years and was pretty hairy when I took it out. So much so l had to cut out the swing keel from under the trailer and drop it to clean it and up in its holding, boats are a labor of love. I had bad blisters under the entire hull and spent a summer repairing faring and new top side paint . I wanted a fast bottom as these boats are already slow . 5 years later and it’s in great shape

[Herschel]

Gotro said:

spent a summer repairing faring and new top side paint

What paint did you use for topside? My 1998 X is need of some topside paint in places. Especially the forward hatch.