aapn77

New Member

Registered: 27 Mar 2019

Posts: 1

What should I use to get a durable finish on the bottom of my boat?

Hello everyone..

I have an 8 foot long, fiberglass row boat that I've been repainting. I'm on a pretty tight budget for it so I decided to use enamel spray paint but I'm afraid that it will wear off quickly with use since I don't have a trailer and the boat is constantly being set down on grass, sand, pine straw, and cement. I'm used to finishing woodworking projects with a durable, clear polyurethane. Is there something similar that I could use to create a durable, clear, and glossy barrier on my boat?

Thank you!

DerekD

Member

Registered: 12 Aug 2013

Posts: 33

Re: What should I use to get a durable finish on the bottom of my boat?

Hi,

I brush painted my boat using Marine gloss and that wears reasonably well and will be thicker than sprayed paint.

I beach my boat on the shores of Loch Lomond and the shores vary from sand to pebbles. That said my boat has a keel strip and skegs topped off with stainless steel strips which take the worst of the wear.

You might want to consider fitting a simple keel strip and skegs to give your boat a little clearance to protect the paint.

I would attach them using silicone sealant as that will hold well enough and be easy to cut off with a sharp chisel or box cutter when replacement becomes necessary.

Wooden strips of hard or softwood about 13mm would do or even 25mm plastic conduit cut in half down its length then packed with silicone and attached to the hull.

Maybe not what you wanted to hear but it might trigger some ideas of your own.

Good luck with your project!