The topic I wanted to tackle today relates to pontoon boats and bottom paint. Bottom paint or anti-fouling paint is used on the hull of many types of different boats to prevent the growth of aquatic organisms that can impede the boat’s performance.
Do pontoon boats need it? Why or why not?
Pontoon boats used in saltwater must have bottom paint. If they are used in freshwater, bottom paint is only a must if they are anchored there for long periods of time. This is because pontoons that are anchored in freshwater for just a short time and are pressure washed before storing in a dry location are safe from algae build-up on the hull.
Now let’s look a little closer at how bottom paint works with pontoon boats and give you some recommendations about what type to look (there are different types available). But first off, I will cover how you can apply the paint to your own pontoon.
How to Apply Bottom Paint to a Pontoon Boat
Depending on the type of bottom paint you have, you can either spray it on or apply it with a paint roller.
In some cases, it may be completely dry within 20 minutes, allowing you to get your boat back in the water and ready to go.
The most important point to note when applying the paint to the hull of your pontoon boat is that there should be a strong continuous layer of protective paint.
Before you do get the paint on, however, there’s just a bit of prep work involved.
The prepping and application is not that hard and is something you can do yourself if you already have some painting experience.
Alternatively, you can have a boat service technician or other expert help you. The paint must be reapplied periodically as recommended to keep it effective.
Now let’s talk about how to prep and paint your pontoon boat. Here’s a short step by step guide:
Step 1: Sanding Down
First, sand down the bottom of the pontoon until you reach the old primer or surface. You can use sandpaper together with a power brush to make sure that there’s no loose paint left on the surface.
Step 2: Clean Up the Bottom of the Pontoon
Next, do a complete and thorough cleaning of the underside to get it ready for the new coat of paint.
Start off by wiping down the surface with a cloth or using compressed air, and then finish off by wiping with a cloth that you’ve dampened in a dewaxing solvent. The surface should now be free of dirt, grease, and other contaminants.
Step 3: Apply the Primer
Apply up to five coats of primer using a roller. Take note of the application instructions so that you don’t mess up the consistency of the primer layers or miss the recoat window.
Step 4: Apply the Bottom Paint
Apply the bottom paint over the primer layers using a roller, paying attention to the overcoat window which is often when the primer is thumbprint tacky.
You can begin by brushing the curved surfaces before rolling over the breadth underside.
How Bottom Paint Works
Now let’s cover how bottom paint works and how to pick the right kind for the boat you have.
Bottom paint contains a key ingredient known as a biocide which is slowly released into the water and prevents slime, algae, and other aquatic life from attaching to the boat.
This is crucial because these fouling agents can affect the speed of the boat and its overall performance. They can also cause damage to the hull over time.
Copper oxide is the most used biocide and makes up a high proportion of the antifouling paint.
Pontoons and other boats commonly made of aluminum should not use these kinds of bottom paints because copper and aluminum do not go well together. They will react resulting in what is known as galvanic corrosion which damages the boat.
The good news is that there are a number of copper-free bottom paints for you to choose from. You can ask your supplier to recommend a good antifouling paint for freshwater or seawater, depending on where you use your pontoon.
Some of the varieties include soft sloughing paints vinyl, modified epoxies, ablative, and thin film Teflon paints.
Conclusion
Whether or not you need bottom paint on your pontoon boat depends on where you use it—in freshwater or in saltwater.
If you use it in saltwater, you must get it coated in bottom paint. If you use it in freshwater and have it moored there for the season, you should also have it coated. If it’s only kept in freshwater for short periods, you don’t need to coat your boat, but be sure to clean it well after each use.
When you’re looking for bottom paint, make sure you find one that is copper-free to prevent damage to your boat.
