Dark Blue Hull - White bottom paint questions

[BendLure]

I'm having some refit work done to my 23' SeaCraft center console. I'm having the hull painted dark blue with Imron, and I'm having the bottom painted with white VC performance epoxy. I trailer the boat and rarely leave it in the water for more than a few days. The two options are:

1: Treat the white just like the black bottom paint that was on the boat, i.e. follow the water line all the way around the boat. This would put white up the sides of the hull 3 or 4 inches and paint the portion of the transom white from the waterline down.

2. Paint the bottom white below the chine, and leave the entire hull side painted dark blue. The white would carry up above the water line at the bow as it follows the chine up. Entire transom would be dark blue. Example: http://www.classicseacraft.com/fellowship/index.html

3. I guess there is a third option where the white follows the chines up the bow, but never goes below the waterline as it moves aft.

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Jeremy

[Outrageous]

I would go with your second option. Go to the home page and check out the 1979 catalogue pics. Looks cool just the way it came original. I think the boot stripe was an option but makes it stand out, just my opinion.

[Eric B]

Hey Jeremy,

I went with option 2. I leave the boat in the water for a few days at a time when cruising. Normally it sits on a lift. I have found only the stern quarter sits in the water and depending on water quality may get an easy to remove scum line.

[BendLure]

Thanks guys.

[Vezo, Part II]

Why not a completely level white bottom paint job starting two inches above true waterline? Followed with a white Imron painted boot stripe after first season, should you choose?

I trailer and now own a SeaCraft with a white painted bottom, and a home with a dock so I am now considering the same white bottom paint that you mention. I just never understood a bottom paint job that ran uphill to the bow eye. Always easy enough to thoroughly clean hull/bow when she's back on the trailer. Just my thoughts. Cheers!

Vezo, Part II

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by BendLure

. . . The two options are:

1: Treat the white just like the black bottom paint that was on the boat, i.e. follow the water line all the way around the boat. This would put white up the sides of the hull 3 or 4 inches and paint the portion of the transom white from the waterline down.

2. Paint the bottom white below the chine, and leave the entire hull side painted dark blue. The white would carry up above the water line at the bow as it follows the chine up. Entire transom would be dark blue. Example: http://www.classicseacraft.com/fellowship/index.html

3. I guess there is a third option where the white follows the chines up the bow, but never goes below the waterline as it moves aft.

Any thoughts?

My boat originally had bottom paint that followed the waterline. After soda blasting and paint w/Interprotect, I repainted following the waterline in the rear and then followed the chine forward from where waterline crossed the chine and it looks better to me, especially in the water. I'm sure everyone has different preferences.

Some epoxies turn white when exposed to UV but maybe not a problem if paint is already white. Does that stuff have some UV inhibitors in it? I'd be a little concerned about the white showing a scum line easily. Maybe a contrasting color would be better?

I used Signature Finish paint, which is the only Urethane paint I know of that will hold up below the waterline. (The company founder painted his swimming pool with it!) It's very user friendly and Tom can mix it in any color you want if you send him a sample. He already had the formula for the Sunbrella Aquamarine color to match my canvas. The ivory color on the side of the vertical steps and between the green boot stripe and bottom in pics below is actually paint that he mixed to match my gel coat!

[Vezo, Part II]

Yes, Sir, leaving the vertical lifts of the strakes was definitely custom. Reminds me of an old Jersey Skiff which had a white bottom. But since we only turned left, the bottom facing the crowds outside the course had Big Red block letters that said TILT ! Wonder if the Millenials ever understood it. Haha.

Vezo

[Islandtrader]

Here is mine...

[wattaway2]

Img_4113.jpg. Here is mine

[wattaway2]

IMG 3765.jpg bow lines