How to lift and support during painting?

[Lucky]

My 170 Bass will spend most of this summer in the water, so I want to put bottom paint on it. I'm familiar with the surface prep steps, but where I need help and advice is how to raise the boat off the trailer and support it for the 5 or 6 hours needed for the paint to dry.

I have an idea, but I'm not sure it is a good one...

All ideas -- especially from those that have "been there and done that" -- are appreciated!

Thanks.

[rscott]

If you go to the photos section and do a search for " bottom painting " you will get a string of pics of how someone did just that.

[OC Tim]

If being painted for the first time I suggest you get the Dealer to do it. I have been painting boats for more years than I care to mention and I would not attempt to paint it fo the first time. It is a very envolved process to get the paint to adhere right but if you want to try you can get the instructions from Triumph.
We tried to jack up a 215 using jack stands at the transom corners and placing a board 2/3 the lenght of keel but did not have the room to get jacks to raise and block. We got the marina to pull it using the travel lift to block it properly then painted.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by rscott

If you go to the photos section and do a search for " bottom painting " you will get a string of pics of how someone did just that.

Thanks for the pointer to the pics.

I do have a few friends with two-post auto lifts and could do something similar. That may be the best and quickest solution, but I think my trailer set up may make it difficult. I have very little clearance between the hull and the trailer frame, so it may be impossible to get legs from a lift as well as a piece of lumber under the outer edge of the boat. Nevertheless, I'll see if there is a way to do it.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by OC Tim

If being painted for the first time I suggest you get the Dealer to do it. I have been painting boats for more years than I care to mention and I would not attempt to paint it fo the first time. It is a very envolved process to get the paint to adhere right but if you want to try you can get the instructions from Triumph.
We tried to jack up a 215 using jack stands at the transom corners and placing a board 2/3 the lenght of keel but did not have the room to get jacks to raise and block. We got the marina to pull it using the travel lift to block it properly then painted.

I appreciate your input. I've looked over the instructions from Triumph and have all of the necessary tools and chemicals, so I'm confident I can do it at least as well as a dealer can and at about 1/3 the cost. I've painted many boats, all with good results. I realize that due to hull material, Triumphs are different but if the surface is properly prepped and primed it should be a no brainer.

[Chad@MerrittMarine]

Hey Guys,

I would recommend that your leave the boat in the water for about a week in order to give you a skim line, it will show truly where you need to bottom paint. Then you can use your bow and stern eyes to lift the boat. Lifts, Cherrypickers, jacks, But be careful applying the primer and paint, i would put a few blocks under the boat just for safety measure. You will need to apply 94 primer to anywhere you are going to bottom paint. We have large amounts of 94 primer available if you need it.

Chad Merritt

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Chad@MerrittMarine

Hey Guys,

I would recommend that your leave the boat in the water for about a week in order to give you a skim line, it will show truly where you need to bottom paint. Then you can use your bow and stern eyes to lift the boat. Lifts, Cherrypickers, jacks, But be careful applying the primer and paint, i would put a few blocks under the boat just for safety measure. You will need to apply 94 primer to anywhere you are going to bottom paint. We have large amounts of 94 primer available if you need it.

Chad Merritt

Chad,

Thank you very much for your reply. Your advice to lift with the eyes and partially support the boat from underneath matches my plan... it is reassuring to hear that if done right the hull won't be damaged.

BTW, I do have the 3M 94 primer on hand, but will certainly consider buying other stuff I need from you in the future -- I'm impressed by the support you and your dealership give to the Triumph community. Actually there is something I want (a swim platform)... I'll send you a PM.

[Lucky]

I appreciate the input you each gave me. It helped me prepare for this little boat project.

I ended up building two large, strong "saw horses" to lift the boat. They were constructed out of a combination of high quality fir 2x4 and 2x6 lumber. I made them wide enough to allow the boat trailer to be rolled out from under the boat. Then three beefy tie-down straps were used to lift the boat off the trailer. To be safe and ensure the boat didn't deform at all while I had it suspended, I supported it from below in three spots.

The actual prep and painting process was extremely easy but time consuming and tiring -- I'm very sore today!

First I sanded the entire bottom. Next step is flame treating with a propane torch, which is a very cool process that fuses the surface and changes its texture slightly. Then prime with 3M 94. Finally two coats of bottom paint. I used West Marine Bottom Coat, which is an oil-based, hard bottom paint. It is budget priced at $80 a gallon, but is high quality paint and it covered and adhered very well.

I'm very pleased by the final result. See the attached pictures for a look at the process.

If anyone has a 170 or 150 they need to lift off the trailer, you are welcome to borrow the "horses" -- just send a PM. I'm located in Fairfax County, VA.


IMG_3356-web.JPG

IMG_3357-web.JPG

IMG_3358-web.JPG

IMG_3359-web.JPG

[Lucky]

Here are a few more pics of the final product with the boat back on its trailer.

IMG_3362-web.JPG

IMG_3364-web.JPG

IMG_3365-web.JPG

[rscott]

Nice job! You got a few bucks tied up in those horses, but its nice you can take them a part easily to store them. The finished product pictures are great too.