Bottom Cleaning/Painting for pontoon boat-Chesapeake Bay Are

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
ToddS
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 11:59 am

Bottom Cleaning/Painting for pontoon boat-Chesapeake Bay Are

#1 Post by ToddS » Sat Jan 20, 2018 6:59 am

I had my boat in the water for the first time this year. The previous owner had the bottom painted, and while it worked okay, I think it's time for a strip down and repainting.

I'm in the Mid-Cheasapeake Bay area. The boat is in Smyrna, DE right now, the marina I keep it at is on the Magothy. I'm willing to trailer it whereever within reason to get it done right.

Any recommendations for a place to getting this done? Any estimates of what I should be paying (I know this will vary). I assume I'll be looking to get the ablative paint done?

While normally I don't mind doing things on my own, I don't have the space to do it, or the ability to easily the boat off the trailer.

Thanks!
Todd

User avatar
curtiscapk
Posts: 5393
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:31 am
Location: OP KS\Hillsdale Lake

Re: Bottom Cleaning/Painting for pontoon boat-Chesapeake Bay Are

#2 Post by curtiscapk » Tue Jan 23, 2018 9:21 am

Wait for Ed to get on. He is from your area and he'll be able to answer.
Craig and Paula
"THE FLOATER" rebuild Spring 2013
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15328
94 Party Barge 24' 115 merc
Turning Point hustler 14 x 13 prop
22mph gps 3 people
12 F150
Overland Park Ks
Hillsdale Lake, KS

SPembleton
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 8:31 am
Location: Holland, MI (Lake Michigan)

Re: Bottom Cleaning/Painting for pontoon boat-Chesapeake Bay Are

#3 Post by SPembleton » Tue Jan 23, 2018 5:13 pm

I am new to pontooning, but have many years sailing i have always used an ablative bottom paint on my boat. I have spoken with reps from Petit re the dos and donts. They say that the biggest problem is putting too much paint on your hull. If you just have spots here and there that have flaked off, you can just touch them up. My last boat was a 34 foot Catalina, and i typically used about a quart of paint per season. What is causing you to consider stripping and repainting?
Steve
2017 Sweetwater 235CB
Catalina 34 (sold)
50 ton Masters Ticket w/ sailing endorsement
Holland, Mi (Lake Michigan)
No salt, no sharks, no amoebas!

User avatar
curtiscapk
Posts: 5393
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:31 am
Location: OP KS\Hillsdale Lake

Re: Bottom Cleaning/Painting for pontoon boat-Chesapeake Bay Are

#4 Post by curtiscapk » Wed Jan 24, 2018 7:27 am

Craig and Paula
"THE FLOATER" rebuild Spring 2013
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15328
94 Party Barge 24' 115 merc
Turning Point hustler 14 x 13 prop
22mph gps 3 people
12 F150
Overland Park Ks
Hillsdale Lake, KS

ToddS
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 11:59 am

Re: Bottom Cleaning/Painting for pontoon boat-Chesapeake Bay Are

#5 Post by ToddS » Wed Jan 24, 2018 3:08 pm

[quote="SPembleton"]I am new to pontooning, but have many years sailing i have always used an ablative bottom paint on my boat. I have spoken with reps from Petit re the dos and donts. They say that the biggest problem is putting too much paint on your hull. If you just have spots here and there that have flaked off, you can just touch them up. My last boat was a 34 foot Catalina, and i typically used about a quart of paint per season. What is causing you to consider stripping and repainting?[/quote]


Hi Steve-
The previous owner had the bottom painted and kept it in the water. I pulled it out at the end of the season and there was about zero growth on it. The next season it was on a trailer. This season I had it in the water. When I pulled it, there were a lot of barnacles on the pontoons and motor pod. It was so heavy that my speed dropped significantly. I suppose some of this is on me, as I should have been checking them out when I was in the water swimming (okay, who am I kidding-lounging...).


So, at the minimum, it needs a really good cleaning. The paint is also flaking in a lot of places, and it looks like they may have just painted over those areas with several coats.

If the price is not prohibitive, I can have it stripped and repainted and I'll know what my starting point is.

Thanks for the info on the paint usage for touch ups. The price of the paint is not cheap! :scared

Todd

SPembleton
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 8:31 am
Location: Holland, MI (Lake Michigan)

Re: Bottom Cleaning/Painting for pontoon boat-Chesapeake Bay Are

#6 Post by SPembleton » Wed Jan 24, 2018 3:16 pm

Todd-also keep the empty can so you can remember what you used. Always use the same paint for touching up.

Btw are you having it soda blasted. Not sure what people do with pontoons. As I said I am more familiar with fiberglass hulls!
Steve
2017 Sweetwater 235CB
Catalina 34 (sold)
50 ton Masters Ticket w/ sailing endorsement
Holland, Mi (Lake Michigan)
No salt, no sharks, no amoebas!

ToddS
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 11:59 am

Re: Bottom Cleaning/Painting for pontoon boat-Chesapeake Bay Are

#7 Post by ToddS » Wed Jan 24, 2018 3:20 pm

Good idea on keeping the can. It can go with our 27 different paints for the house!

I'm not sure what the prep will be. I think soda blasting is to abrasive; I've heard they use walnut (?) shells.

Post Reply