How to Prep & Paint the Bottom of a Fiberglass Boat

Painting the bottom of a fiberglass boat is critical to ensuring the longevity of the boat and the fiberglass bottom. In addition to protecting the bottom of the boat, fresh paint can make the boat appear in better shape and provide the owner with additional pride.

Things You'll Need

• Long-handled scraper
• Pressure hose
• Paint knife
• Paint stripper (optional)
• Sander with vacuum attachment
• Respirator
• Painter's tape
• Paint
• Paint brush or roller
• Roller bucket, paint bucket

Instructions

Prepping

1. Once the boat is dry docked, remove all debris from the bottom of the boat. This can be done by using a high-pressure water hose and a long-handled scraper. It may mean knocking off large, hard growths.

2. Remove any paint that is ready to come off by using the painter's knife. Worrying paint off an item is a process in which the paint edges are pushed at by the knife, causing them to lift and flake off.

3. Strip the bottom of the boat. This may be necessary if there is excessive paint loss or if the new type of paint differs from the old paint type. New paint mixtures may eat at and destroy older types of paint, which can cause the new paint to wear and peel faster than it otherwise would.

4. Tape the boat at the water line to prevent paint getting onto the main section of the boat. Sand the area that is about to be painted to provide a texture for the paint to cling to. Any excess dust should be removed at this time. Wearing a respirator, eye protection and hearing protection is advised during this procedure.

Painting

1. Stir or shake the paint until the color and consistency are good. Any copper or other protective ingredients that may have sunk to the bottom of the paint can should be evenly distributed. If the ingredients are not properly distributed, the paint may fail to protect as well as it should or may appear inconsistent in color or thickness.

2. Apply the paint evenly using either a paint brush or paint roller. Do not paint over any Zinc connectors or bronze props. Apply the specified number of coatings suggested by the paint manufacturer. Once the boat bottom is finished, ask a dock manager for assistance moving the boat stands to paint the areas they may cover.

3. Allow the paint to fully dry before placing the boat back into the water. Follow the specifications listed on the paint can by the manufacturer to find the minimum and maximum time the boat should be left out of the water.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not paint the shaft of the boat. Leave all zinc anodes clean and clear of any substance that may block the electrical connections.

References

• Boat Us
• Yacht Paint
• Kramer Industries

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Boat Us