Bottom Paint

[itechteam]

I just bought a 2008 Avalon tritoon, I live on salt water so I am thinking about having the toons painted. What type of paint and how do you do it? I want to be educated before I start talking to people to do it for me.

Thanks,

[Gonefishing]

Whatever paint u use just make sure you use a primer and that the paint does not have copper in it. Make sure you get a primer for aluminum.

[itechteam]

is the general consensus to paint when boating in saltwater?

[badmoonrising]

Yes, clean, primer and bottom paint ALWAYS in saltwater. I boat in the Chesapeake which can range from a salty as teh ocean to somewhat feesh and when I owned my Party Cruiser (kept in a slip) it was bottom painted from day 1.

I did 2 coats primer and 3 coats Interlux paint...make SURE you use paint made for aluminum hulls. If you use copper on an aluminum hull, you will get absolutely severe corrosion quickly...enough to make pin holes in a single season.

I've seen boats damaged by the wrong paint in this forum as well as in my experience with the local marinas, some who do it wrong and right.

[itechteam]

My boat is lift stored, but I think I will still bottom paint it.

[badmoonrising]

Good idea because pontoon boat lifts generally are carpeted, which holds water. Better paint to insulate the hull from the wet padding.

[itechteam]

yeah when I had the bunks redone for the tritoon I had them put trex on top of the salt treated lumber, no carpet.