Bottom paint above waterline?

[SKMT]

1. My dinghy is a 14ft fiberglass skiff. I anchor in a fairly unprotected area, so it's always bouncing around. This has caused a thick slime growing a solid foot above the waterline. I'm trying to make things easy on myself for the future, can I just apply ablative paint 12" above the waterline?

2. Dinghy desperately needs new bottom paint regardless. Dont have a crane nor trailer. I've heard of people driving up into the shallows at low tide, putting blocks underneath boat and painting. But is a couple hours enough time for ablative paint to cure?

3. Recommendation for cheapest diy yard in miami area (willing to travel a bit)?

[psk125]

Some antifouling paints lose their antifouling properties when exposed to air. Check the labels before you buy any.

[coopec43]

What about adhesive vinyl strip?

https://www.seascrew.com/browse.cfm?...-&l=0000001244

[tkeithlu]

"DIY yard in Miami" may possibly be an oxymoron. You have a 13 hour tide cycle, but it's only about 2 1/2 feet, so I'm thinking that you will need to haul her out. It may be time to invest in a trailer and take her home for your work. That could be the most economical route.

This Interlux site will help you choose the best paint:

https://www.interlux.com/en/us/boat-paint/antifouling

[SKMT]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

"DIY yard in Miami" may possibly be an oxymoron. You have a 13 hour tide cycle, but it's only about 2 1/2 feet, so I'm thinking that you will need to haul her out. It may be time to invest in a trailer and take her home for your work. That could be the most economical route.

This Interlux site will help you choose the best paint:

https://www.interlux.com/en/us/boat-paint/antifouling

Problem is I live on a boat.

[boatman61]

Why not use a boot topping.. https://www.rawlinspaints.com/home/m...t-topping.html

[Benz]

It's not uncommon to do a boot stripe in these parts with Petit's Vivid antifoul. Lots of colors to choose from; keeps your waterline clean.

[barnakiel]

I found non-ablative (hard) paint stays active longer when not permanently immersed. But it is easier to do it all in one kind of paint. Less work and kind of works OK. (Our boat is painted like this).

[fstbttms]

Hard paints cannot withstand prolonged exposure to air. Ablatives can.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by SKMT

...

2. Dinghy desperately needs new bottom paint regardless. Dont have a crane nor trailer. I've heard of people driving up into the shallows at low tide, putting blocks underneath boat and painting. But is a couple hours enough time for ablative paint to cure?

3. Recommendation for cheapest diy yard in miami area (willing to travel a bit)?

14ft dinghy? Not sure why you can't just beach it and turn it upside down to paint.

[SKMT]

Originally Posted by SVTatia

14ft dinghy? Not sure why you can't just beach it and turn it upside down to paint.

It's a fiberglass skiff with center console and 50hp engine.