Should I paint the bottom?
 

Gents

A couple years ago I purchased a restored 20' 1976 SeaCraft. Great looking boat with no bottom paint. Couple of months ago I purchased a condo with boat slip on Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach which is 3 1/2 hours from my home. The trailering and launch and retrieve are not appealing at 66 years old. Bottom line is how much would I adversely affect the value by painting the bottom? Thanks in advance.

Don

IMO not much reduction in value if bottom paint done correctly. Did you buy the boat to use it or to sell it ?

Bought it to use it in the Chesapeake Bay. Plan to buy a 24'-26' for next year.

I just repainted my bottom paint and get compliments on it all the time. It is nice not having a scum line if you use a dark color. I used Seahawk teal. It sounds like you have no choice but to paint the bottom. I do not see it hurting the value of a SC

Bottom paint would be better than blisters or barnacles on the bottom

Use a good ablative bottom paint. It slowly wears away and leaves no build up. Easy to repaint.

Depending on how active the marine growth is in that area
you will need to have a dive service clean it on a regular basis...

It will grow a beard with the bottom paint..

If you use it on a regular basis the beard will wear off underway to some degree...

I trailer and have boat on a mooring for a week or two. This type of paint has served me well.