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.