Waterline and bottom paint
 

I'm about to paint the bottom of my '86 20 cc. I know how high up on the transom I need to be, but i want to have a nice sweeping curve to the waterline up to the bow. How do I make this line properly?

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

Run it parallel to the chine.

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

Exactly. Look at my avatar to the left. I painted it 3" above the chine. You can put boot stripes anywhere to liking.

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

Following the chin up in the bow is fine but don’t do it aft

I’m sure your aware (and probably have already done this)To attain the proper water line you need to load the boat as you would for use (including full fuel and water etc etc) and put it in the water. Either let it set in the water for some time to mark it naturally (scum line) or mark it with some thing like a grease pencil.

Every boat sits different in the water when loaded. This is an example why not to follow the chin all the way aft. Nothing worse than spending time on a boot only to find out its below or not parallel to the waters surface (the sweep up to the bow is fine)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/finesse/1.jpg

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

I know this may not be the functionally correct attitude, but... I trailer the boat so I want to achieve a visually appealing sweep and avoid a noticeable "angle" where the waterline starts heading up to the bow.
Scott, what did you do on the blue craft next to your name?

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

Put the boat in the water, let it sit until you get a scumline. Now you know where the water line is.
Take blue tape and follow an inch or so above the scumline and make the line that you like.

I just read Scotts post. So, what he said.
I can only add one thing, there may come a day when the boat sits in the water for more time than you've planned, then you'll wish you had your bottom covered. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

I agree with Scott on this one, but the break from the chine to the actual waterline should be a more graceful sweep than a definite angle. I just painted the bottom this weekend and on the starboard side at the stern the paint line is 4" high perpendicular to the bottom and follows the waterline from there to the chine. The actual waterline is an inch or so below that. All this will vary depending on the weight of the boat. Mine is a '72 23' CC with a single 250 Yamaha SWS. - PF

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

I don't see why you need a line at all if you trailer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lcat/side2.jpg

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

Bobber, what did you do on the transom?

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

HT .... That follows the chine and as it gets further back it comes up a bit. Its not as drastic as the one in the picture I posted. Also Like Paul says about the picture ... I too would have softened that transition from the bow moving aft.

I'm curious ...your first post states your painting the bottom ...but later on you say its going to sit on a trailer ? Why are you adding the bottom painting OR are you just going to add a boot stripe?? (assuming your going to leave it in the water for extended periods …and paint with an ablative?)

This is opposite of what you ask above BUT another way to do it with the boot would be to follow the water line all the way forward …. With no sweep. This is very common on bigger boats and looks great. I’m not sure how it would look on a 20’

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

HatTrick, I did it the same as the sides. But, because mine is always on a trailer I painted the bottom with an epoxy barrier coat. Good protection and easy to repair.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/withtabs.jpg

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

Thanks for all your replies. I bought the boat 4 years ago and have trailered it ever since. Now the bottom paint that came with the boat is in bad shape and looks awful. I don't want to try and grind it all off so I am going to paint it with something so it looks good, but probably not a regular ablative paint. I removed the paint that was on the sides of the boat last year so I can now reposition the waterline where I want to. I will put her in the water to see how she sits,mark the boat to meet the waterline and "sweep" it forward. Thanks again for all your comments.

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

Don't forget to let it sit with full fuel and add weight to equal full loading. I put mine in, added a couple of people, and then used a greasepencil at the back corner. Smae method I used to use when bottom-painting new boat hulls for the first time. You don't have to let it sit in the water overnight, either.

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

The problem with this site is that there are too many nice boats and too many ways to do one thing! My mind has changed and I'm leaning towards bobbers style. No paint on the sides or transom... bottom only.

Re: Waterline and bottom paint
 

Here are a few photos of the transom redo. It's a pretty basic, teporary job but it came out pretty nice. I used Interlux Brightside and it matched the gel coat well.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...t4-2005002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...t4-2005003.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...t4-2005004.jpg