DIY Network

Bottom Painting: Introduction and Starting the Process From "Shipshape Boating" episode DSSB-113

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The host of Shipshape Boating, John Greviskis, shows you how to protect the bottom of your boat with a "bottom painting" job. Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D

On this week's episode of DIY's Shipshape Boating, host John Greviskis shows you how to protect the bottom of your boat from plant and crustacean growth (figure A), which can result in fouling.

The boat that Greviskis worked on for this particular project was a 13-foot, Boston Whaler Sport. The condition of the bottom paint is starting to show some wear, tear and fouling. After time it's inevitable that any boat will acquire calcium depots and some barnacles (figure B).

Starting the Process

1. The first thing you want to do is to is to get the boat to dry land.

2. Use a scrapper to remove any marine growth from the bottom of the boat prior to any sanding or painting.

3. Once the bottom is clear of marine growth, you'll need to maintain the established anti-foulant paint line by applying masking tape (figure C) along it.

   Tip: Be sure to use low-adhesive masking tape to protect the upper hull and to define the bottom paint line.

4. Continue to pull the masking tape out a couple of feet at a time and tack down until you've taped all the way around the perimeter of the boat.

5. Come back with a clean cotton rag and rub over the top of the masking tape with great frequency to create friction. This way you will be burnishing the masking tape.

   Note: Burnishing the masking tape will keep the new anti-foulant paint from seeping through the tape onto the boat.

6. Next, place 80-grit sandpaper on a palm sander that has an attached collection bag and sand the bottom (figure D) of the boat thoroughly.

   Safety Alert: For both sanding and painting the bottom of the boat, be sure to wear safety gear -- a protective suit, safety goggles, gloves and a hooded respirator (or at least a safety mask). Also, be sure to use a tarp to catch debris and to prevent solvents from entering the ground.

7. The palm sander works great for any "flat" surface of the boat bottom, for any areas that have a bumpy or tight area, you'll need to continue to use 80-grit sandpaper, but you'll have to sand my hand.

8. After the boat bottom has been sanded thoroughly, use denatured alcohol and a bunch of clean rags to remove any excess debris from the hull bottom.

In the next segment, Greviskis will demonstrate how to apply an ablative anti-fouling paint to your boat.