clear bottom paint or sealant?

Jorday

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Express 330
Just picked up a 2021 express 330. no bottom paint. I am in freshwater, northern lake huron. The water is pretty clean here. Not interested in the usual bottom paint look. what are my other choices?
 
You can find white bottom paint as well, it doesn't stand out quite as much.
 
You don't have many choices, but they are:
- lift
- dry stack
- armored hull enclosure
 
Hull Maxx is the only clear product, but it will not prevent scum build up. It is also slightly less expensive than gold plating!
 
instructions from grady says it needs to be painted if it's going to be in the water for more than a few days?

id do a lift but i don't think the marina will allow me to do so.

sounds like it's probably gonna be hull max
 
The Grady "recommendation" (it's not a requirement) is most likely for salt water.

Before you paint, check with others in the same area that don't have bottom paint and see how they're fairing. Don't worry if it's a Grady, or not, that makes no difference what so ever.

Another thing to check is to see what your marina charges for a "short haul" with bottom wash.

I have no experience with Hull Maxx, but from a quick read, it looks like it still requires ocassional brushing/cleaning... meaning, either hiring a diver or doing a short haul.
 
You will likely get algae growth within a week or so. There is no way around that without some form of biocide bottom paint. Petit does sell a hybrid bottom paint available in white, but it will not stay white forever.

My bass boat will get discoloration is its wet for more than about 3-4 days at a time.
 
I understand the purpose of bottom paint, but having had a boat with bottom paint on it I will never do that again. I would exhaust all other options before I bottom paint.
 
I understand the purpose of bottom paint, but having had a boat with bottom paint on it I will never do that again. I would exhaust all other options before I bottom paint.
out of 100% curiosity, why are you so against bottom paint?
 
trailer is an option. I do already have a trailer for this boat, and I am able to keep the boat on the trailer at the marina so all i would have to do is hook up the boat in the marina parking lot and back it into the water. it's still kind of a lot of work but it is an optin.
 
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Interlux VC Performance - super slick surface that can be polished. Good for trailer/stack boats.
 
I don't like bottom paint because it takes away from the boat both in looks and performance. You will have to have it redone every
year or 2 depending on your situation. That is not cheap. having said all that I do understand that bottom paint is a needed thing in
certain instances. I had a boat that was in a wet slip and it needed to be bottom painted, but I still had to clean the bottom all the time
and you never get it good.
 
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Interlux VC Performance - super slick surface that can be polished. Good for trailer/stack boats.
Just finished my Explorer in VC Performance, only draw back no antifoul.... Ill be in the high/dry so didn't need antifoul.
 
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Pardon my rant.
you can't have your cake and eat it too.

330 is 11,000 lbs dry, 11'7" beam. It is not a trailer boat no matter what anybody wants to try to believe.

If you own one you keep it in the water and have the bottom painted and maintained. You go to the marina and hang out on the boat.
..or you put it on a lift behind your lake house.

The cost is not relevant. It's a boat. Its a big expensive boat and you own it.

and the bottom paint is underwater. You only see a thin line.
 
Last edited:
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Pardon my rant.
you can't have your cake and eat it too.

330 is 11,000 lbs dry, 11'7" beam. It is not a trailer boat no matter what anybody wants to try to believe.

If you own one you keep it in the water and have the bottom painted and maintained. You go to the marina and hang out on the boat.
..or you put it on a lift behind your lake house.

The cost is not relevant. It's a boat. Its a big expensive boat and you own it.

and the bottom paint is underwater. You only see a thin line.
Your rant is excused - you're right! If you want to play - you've got to pay (I know!). Hey - our maintenance/operating costs are peanuts compared to the Viking, Hatteras, Bertram, etc. battlewagons!?!?!
 
I think i'm gonna look in to a hoist.