Getting to the bottom of things…

They say ‘there’s nothing better than messing around with boats’. I agree, but up to a point. Every couple years, if your boat stays in the water, the growth on the bottom has noticeably slowed you down. It’s time to ‘do the bottom’.

Doing the bottom entails having the boat hauled out and blocked at a marina $, sanding down through the old bottom paint (whatever hasn’t worn off) $$, and repainting with a growth inhibiting paint $$$ – usually two coats $$$$. Not only does each step have a price tag, but the cost to your body is not trivial if you choose to do the work yourself. Mostly two days of sanding – upside down – with a sander built for the local weights room.

Then a few more hours, separated by long drying times over two days, to apply the new bottom paint. When all’s done, she looks almost like new again……..now with black over what’s left of the red. Just need to strip off the tape…

..and she looks like new…

Then back in the water!