Ablative vs hard bottom paint for a boat that mostly sits?
Asked by bilge_rat in Maintenance & Repairs on June 1, 2026
Marina queen confession: she moves maybe twice a month. Yard says hard paint, dockmate swears by ablative. Warm water, moderate fouling. What's the real answer?
3 replies
trawlerTom · June 2, 2026
Slow mover = ablative wears off too slowly to self-clean, you get buildup AND fouling. Hard paint + a diver every 6 weeks is the honest answer in warm water.
biscayne_bob · June 2, 2026
Miami here: hard paint, diver monthly, $4/ft. Cheaper than hauling early because the ablative turned into a reef.
bilge_rat · June 3, 2026
Hard paint it is. The dockmate will cope.