Bottom paint or Bottom Wax?

[Russ]

One of those automobile creepers works pretty good for easily getting under the hull, but you do have to have a method for raising the boat higher than the trailer. I used those 4" wide rollers on mine, went through a few of them but the whole job only took a day.

I use a shop creeper to wax it. Waxing from that angle is a difficult job. I know I'll paint it one day. Once I figure out how to block the boat safely off the trailer so I don't crush myself.

[Don T]

Hello,
I use Meguires cleaner wax and a power buffer to wax the hull before and after 10 day saltwater trips in the San Juan & Gulf Islands. In 20 years only once did we catch some baby barnicles trying to take up house keeping. For getting the boat off the bunks I use the cradles I built for getting the boat off the trailer that needed a refit as shown in this thread about half way down.
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =9&t=23070

Don

[Sea Wind]

Once I figure out how to block the boat safely off the trailer so I don't crush myself.

You don’t really have to get it off the trailer; just lift it enough to get under the bunks with the roller. I just finished repainting it in about 3 days:
½ day: power washing the hull and removing transducer.
Day 2: half day taping above waterline and raising trailer with three stands as follows. I first lowered the tongue to raise the stern of the boat and placed two stands in the back, then, I used some 6x6 blocks of wood and used a 5 ton jack to raise the tongue of the trailer, then placed another stand in the front of the hull. Finally, I lowered the jack and the boat was suspended on the three stands. I placed some more blocks of wood under the frame of the trailer by the tires as extra safety (not shown on pictures). The second half of the day was spent lightly sanding with 80 grit sandpaper on a piece of 2x4. Finally, I wiped the hull twice with wet towels and one final wipe with a clean dry towel.
Day 3: applying 3 coats of existing bottom paint including rudders and what I could reach of the centerboard (centerboard line was released and CB resting on the floor with 2/3 being exposed.
Another ½ day: lowered boat, removed stands, sanded areas covered by stands and then painted those areas. I used one gallon of Sea Hawk bottom paint.

The cost was only the gallon of paint and green masking tape as the stands were borrowed from the marina and I had all the painting supplies including suit, goggles, gloves and respirator from the previous bottom paint job. I also used a car creeper which makes the job much easier.