How much does a typical bottom paint job cost?

venturousviking · #1 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

The title has my main question, now a little background. My first boat which I bought last year is a Capri 18. I thought I would trailer it for the rest of its life since it is a small boat. Its almost 20 years old but has never had bottom paint since it has been dry stored. I kept it on the lake for about three days and discovered how nice it was not to have to step the mast and rig it so now I rented a slip to keep my boat there. There do not seem to be many places around my area that works on sailboats so when I called a couple of places to find how much a bottom paint job cost it was 900-1000 dollars. That seems a little steep to me. These prices included hoist fees and VC17(VC17 is what everyone around here at Kentucky lake likes) paint. Does that price sound about right for an 18 foot boat?

Mike

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

That's really steep, considering it is an 18' boat. If you have a trailer for it... paint it yourself. You could probably do the bottom of that boat in a day.

jackytdunaway · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

I learned to sail on an 18' Chrysler and it stayed in the water all the time tied to a pier. It never had bottom paint. a few times a year we would haul and clean the bottom.

chucklesR · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

First time painting? Do it yourself. Painting a trailered boat is easy. All you need are a brush or two,a gallon or so of paint, some de-waxing cleaner, some 150-180 grit sandpaper, painters tape etc..

Strike off (Line) your water line (this is the hard part) level and correctly - within a inch of so of the actual line it floats at (usually marked by dirt stains). If you have a boot strip already on your boat paint up to 1 inch below the boot stripe. Leave the 1 inch area as bare fiberglass - it just looks better.

Dewax and clean the bottom - Thoroughly. Even on a used older boat this is necessary.

Sand lightly to give 'tooth' to the bottom.

Paint at least 3 coats, brush and roller. Probably 2 gallons total.

Move the boat back and forth using the winch to get at the spots covered by the trailer rollers.

Use a hard paint, non-ablative (VC 17 is good) - that way when you pull the boat you can clean it off with a brush and it can be multi-season.

lharmon · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

Sailingdog is spot on. A small amount of sweat and you'll save a bundle. Read whatever paint you buy instructions and follow them to the letter. You may need a special cleaner for the hull since it has never had bottom paint on it. If there is a local favorite paint, chances are it works good. The application is fairly simple, mask off your topsides and roll on the bottom paint. Don Casey's "This Old Boat" can walk you through the steps. And of course many members here will be ready to assist as well.

Do it yourself. It is easier than painting a closet in a home.

Good luck.

LH

T37Chef · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

$10-$15 per foot around here for a quick sand and one coat of paint.

Are you sure they are not stripping the bottom first, then maaaaaaaaybe I could see $1000.

If you do take it down to the gel coat, do one or two coats in one color, then the last coat in another color. This helps to show when its time to re paint

venturousviking · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

I guess the biggest barrier to me painting the boat myself is the area under the bunks. I do not have rollers on my trailer. I have read a thread somewhere about someone using the trailer jack to get the boat off the bunks. This boat does sit really high up though if anyone is not familiar with how a capri 18 sits on a trailer. I think after reading a few of the replies all of you have convinced me to do it myself. Hell, I guess I might learn something along the way. Any advice on getting the boat off the bunks just enough to paint it? I can't paint it at the marina so it will have to be at my house. Thanks in advance for any threads or advice any of you might be able to give me...

Thanks...

Mike

chucklesR · #8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

Know anyone with jack stands?
Those are the stands with a tripod base holding up the boats at the marina.
Can you rent them from the marina - most will rent them.

You put jack stands under your boat and literally screw them up a little on each at a time, raising the boat a couple inches. Use a stack of 2x4's or a big block until the keel when done to help hold the boat.

Your manual - or owners group should be able to tell you where the lift points are - to prevent punching thru or cracking the hull.

gee, that might scare you, but people do it all the time.

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

I used a 6x6 section resting on a hydraulic car jack to lift the stern of my boat to reposition the boat stands for when I was painting it, and my boat is a lot bigger than yours is... 28' LOA x 18' BEAM.

venturousviking · #10 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008

No go on the jack rentals...It's not really a sailboat marina but there are lots there. Like I said before the boat really does set high off the ground while on the trailer. I would be up for buying a boat jack stand if anyone thinks its possible to use just one to lift the bow up then the stern to be able to get it high enough to paint under the bunks.

Mike