Saturday, August 15, 2020

Boat Maintenance: Paint Touch-Ups Can Be Easy


For many of us Michiganders, summer means getting out on our boats and hitting the lake. With all the good times our boats provide for us and our families, it’s only fair we take good care of them so they can continue to be part of our memories for years to come. Maintaining a boat is a lot of work, but one of the simplest steps is often the most neglected: applying paint to touch up your boat. 

Application is easy, and there are paints for wood, metal and fiberglass boats. All you need to do is clean the desired surface and allow it to dry, then apply the paint with a brush or sponge. Above water paint only needs 2 hours to dry, and below water takes about 4. 

To learn more about the difference between painting above and below the waterline, as well as general tips and tricks to brighten your vessel, click here


Saturday, August 1, 2020

Are You Using the Right Paint for Boat Touch-Ups?


A boat is a big investment, so the idea of messing up a paint job is enough to make people skip this step. What if I get the wrong type of paint? What if I don’t allow it to dry in time? What if it’s not waterproof? These are all valid concerns but touching up your boat is a lot easier than you realize. 

There are two types of paints, above water and below. Paint for above the waterline is oil-based and helps protect the boat against UV rays as well as give strength and flexibility to your vessel. Below water paint, particularly for the bottom of boats, has anti-fouling properties. This means that they are designed to slowly release copper, which prevents the growth of organisms like barnacles. Left unchecked, these organisms can cause drag to your boat, meaning it will take more fuel to move your boat through the water. 

For more information about how to paint your boat, as well as a few tips to keep in mind, click here.


Avoiding Dock-on-Dock Collision

Is your dock running into your neighbor’s dock? It’s always best to get along with your neighbors, but many lake sites are not in line with ...