what time of the year do you guys start getting the boat ready ?

[rugman]

 for a few years i start getting my boat ready for the spring stripers . I start fishing up by the tapen zee. It is around the end of April.

[mboy]

Can't put mine in until May 1, so I will start doing the work 2nd and 3rd weekends in April.

Write that down Duffman, Young Gull and Luna Sea

This should be my last year of doing A LOT of work.

Too much to do.
Install Trim tabs, flush mount vhf radio and connect to GPS (and neaten all wires), Fuel flo gauge, trim gauge, possible water pressure gauge, move oil tank over a little, install 2nd battery with combiner, detail

[IrishAyes]

I will start right after we get a week of fairly warm weather.  Usually sometime near the middle to end of March. 

Then, it's down to the boat, give the bottom a once over to remove anything the power washing may have missed, scrape loose bottom paint then paint the bottom.  Change zincs and splash boat. 
Over the past year I developed a soft spot in my deck.  I need that fixed before the boat gets dunked.  Everything else can be done in the water.

Metal work gets polished and inside of boat gets a good scrubbing.  All lights are checked for operation and everything gets put back onthe boat.   

[Luna Sea 5]

I work on mine in March to be in the water by the first week of April.

[mboy]

I work on mine in March to be in the water by the first week of April.

When we eventually buy a house and I can store the boat there, I may start work as early as Jan

[IrishAyes]

Yup, you can get a lot of odds and ends done when the boat is at home.  I wish mine were at my house to do some things on it.

Don't matter where it is to paint it though, you still need the warmer weather that March and April bring on.   

[mboy]

Speaking of which, how do you piant bottom when on trailer?

Do you wait for 1st run to dry, then move boat around so you can get to bottom that was not accessible?

[IrishAyes]

I can only assume that you are correct in that thinking Mike.  My boat goes on blocks in my marina's yard.  I don't have a trailer, wish I did.  That does sound like a reasonable way to do it though.

With mine on blocks, I paint what I can and when it is put on the fork lift or in the sling, I get to touch up what was missed.

[mboy]

Yep, my marina is painting this year, but if all it really is, is just touching up previous year and not sanding and reapplying entire bottom, then I may do myself next year, trailer or not.
Marina got me close to 600 to paint this year and don't think I need to pay that much if it is just touching up, no sanding.

[Luna Sea 5]

Mike, I told you... The bottom painting is easy, I do mine every year.  I Jack the boat off the rollers and paint where the rollers lay, very easy.  1 gallon of all season paint at $100.00 can do both our boats with leftover for next season.  Save the money.  This is one of the easiest things you can do yourself.

[eagleyankfan]

I target earlier April.  I mostly trailer the boat though.

Painting the bottom on your own, I normally let the marina do it but more then willing to do it on my own, but wasn't sure what do to. 

LS3, what do you do to preb before painting?(powerwash?)

[Luna Sea 5]

strong power wash, I have a 3800 psi washer at home I use...  Use Mary Kate cleaner to get the water line off the boat.  Tape off the bottom, then paint away..  I also spray my trim tabs with antifoulant paint..

[mboy]

strong power wash, I have a 3800 psi washer at home I use...  Use Mary Kate cleaner to get the water line off the boat.  Tape off the bottom, then paint away..  I also spray my trim tabs with antifoulant paint..

What paint do you use for that nick and what prep did you do for original coat and what for following seasons. I have to paint my new tabs too.

[IrishAyes]

Mike, I have been using the same paint I use to paint the bottom for my tabs.  Been doing it for 14 years now and have never had a problem.  Don't forget to put zincs on the tabs before you paint the tabs and DON'T paint the zincs.  The tabs under the zincs should be paint free also.

To prep, my boat is power washed when it is hauled.  I try to remove anything that is missed by the power washer (around the transducers, motor, etc) while it is still wet at haul-out.  In the spring it is just a once over to get anything from the winter off, scrap any loose bottom paint, prime any bald spots, tape off water line, then roll on a new coat of ablative paint. Touch up anything with a cheapy throw away brush. 

[eagleyankfan]

strong power wash, I have a 3800 psi washer at home I use...  Use Mary Kate cleaner to get the water line off the boat.  Tape off the bottom, then paint away..  I also spray my trim tabs with antifoulant paint..

Thanks.  I think I will actually do it this year. 

[rugman]

Is it true , useing a power washer will take off the clear coat?

[IrishAyes]

I use the power washer in it's spray mode.  I would imagine if you put it on it's pin point setting you might do some type of damage, but don't know.  In the spray mode, I haven't had any issues.   

[mboy]

Thanks Joe. I am just not sure If I am going to get the tabs on the boat before they paint the bottom. If I do, then they can paint the tabs

I do have the R3 rudder zincs already for the tabs.

[IrishAyes]

 

[Luna Sea 5]

Mike, besides the powerwash and a good wire brushing where needed, the prep work is easy...  I have an multi season paint on it, so all I do is put a very light coat on the following season.  After about 4 seasons, I will get it professionally sand blasted and then start over.  I don't have the name of the paint on me, its in my garage, but like i said, 1 gallon and we are both done for the season, all for about $100.00 total..