Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by heimtun on 03/28/17 - 8:30 AM

My hull is in OK shape - it has the remnants of bottom paint that doesn't look so good. You can see a little of it on the attached photo (if photo doesn't attach, you can see it on my profile page). I'm not even sure what type of paint it is... anti-fouling or not.
The boat is trailered and won't spend time in the water when not in use - except maybe for a week or two on vacation.
I'm curious of my options and your suggestions.

Posted by tedious on 03/28/17 - 8:38 AM

Honestly, you've got a ton of work to do there if you want to make that boat look better - no offense meant. So if looks are your priority, you'd find it a lot easier and cheaper just to start with a different boat.

If you don't want to do that would be inclined to just use it and enjoy it as is!

Posted by max366 on 03/28/17 - 3:34 PM

I just finished a 1980 13ft with similar bottom paint issues. I painted it with Pettit Ultima Eco in white- the color matched the hull gelcoat color very closely. Other than the tape line, it was hard to see where the gelcoat stopped and the paint started. Something to consider.

Posted by jgortva on 03/29/17 - 5:50 AM

I have stripped bottom paint off of boats in the past including a 13 foot sport. I did it to change bottom paint colors rather than trying to get the bottom back to pristine gel coat. I have never been able to get all the paint off in the little pores, scratches, and low spots in the hull to leave it unpainted after stripping. So, in the end I have always re painted the bottom. With that being said, no matter if you try to match the hull color or stay with the classic BW blue bottom paint, once you start painting you will have to touch up or re coat every couple of years if you use an ablative paint just from putting the boat on and off the trailer as it scuffs off easily as that is how it is designed to work. My advice would be if you decide to take on the project to use an epoxy bottom paint that is made for the water you will be boating in. It is much harder than an ablative and will probably give you multiple seasons with no touch ups necessary.

Jim G.

Posted by heimtun on 04/05/17 - 12:03 PM

tedious wrote:
Honestly, you've got a ton of work to do there if you want to make that boat look better - no offense meant. So if looks are your priority, you'd find it a lot easier and cheaper just to start with a different boat.

If you don't want to do that would be inclined to just use it and enjoy it as is!

Sorry not to have replied sooner - I forgot to turn "notify" on.

No offense taken, I know what how the boat looks - the photo was taken when I first got the boat - it looks a little better today.
Thanks for your input.

Posted by heimtun on 04/05/17 - 12:04 PM

max366 wrote:
I just finished a 1980 13ft with similar bottom paint issues. I painted it with Pettit Ultima Eco in white- the color matched the hull gelcoat color very closely. Other than the tape line, it was hard to see where the gelcoat stopped and the paint started. Something to consider.

Sorry not to have replied sooner - I forgot to turn "notify" on.

Thanks for your input.

Posted by heimtun on 04/05/17 - 12:05 PM

jgortva wrote:
I have stripped bottom paint off of boats in the past including a 13 foot sport. I did it to change bottom paint colors rather than trying to get the bottom back to pristine gel coat. I have never been able to get all the paint off in the little pores, scratches, and low spots in the hull to leave it unpainted after stripping. So, in the end I have always re painted the bottom. With that being said, no matter if you try to match the hull color or stay with the classic BW blue bottom paint, once you start painting you will have to touch up or re coat every couple of years if you use an ablative paint just from putting the boat on and off the trailer as it scuffs off easily as that is how it is designed to work. My advice would be if you decide to take on the project to use an epoxy bottom paint that is made for the water you will be boating in. It is much harder than an ablative and will probably give you multiple seasons with no touch ups necessary.

Jim G.

Sorry not to have replied sooner - I forgot to turn "notify" on.

Thanks for your input. I'll probably leave the hull as it is for now - except for some hole patching.