Bottom paint condition, pre-purchase

[Bacchus]

I dont consider a particular recommendation for bottom paint ( especially hard vs soft) to be universal. It depends on several factors such as where you boat ( N cool water, S warm water, fresh vscsalt) and situation/ condition ( seasonal vs continuous in the water, months on the hard & relaunch, frequent scrub / cleaning)
If one type bottom paint was best... thats all mfg would be selling / boaters buying.

 

[jim.johnson3570]

If I were the seller I'd reject that offer. There is no need to remove paint to check for blisters.

When I walk around the yard where I'm parked on the great lakes, half the bottoms look like that. I fully understand the reluctance of owners to pay five figures to have the bottoms stripped and refinished. For most there's no justification in doing so. I wouldn't label that deferred maintenance.

Jeff F,

I agree with you if it was me I would also reject such a proposal - in fact I would just move on.

 

[Comodave]

Do not blast! Aggressively sand with 40 grit then inspect for blisters and fare out; then 3 coats of hard paint NOT ablative !! And then a fourth coat on the waterline.

We have had several boats soda blasted. No issues, IF you have a competent person doing the blasting. If you get a new hire doing the blasting then that can be a different story. But ask the yard how much experience the operator has and then be there when it is done. But blasting is the most effective way of removing old bottom paint. Last boat I had blasted took me about 45 minutes of final touch up sanding getting some small areas done. Doing the painting is fairly easy work as long as you are nimble enough.