The Cost to Paint a Boat

Boat maintenance varies with seasons and use. Checking battery levels, waxing the hull and painting the bottom are all done on regular schedules to keep the boat running and looking good. The level of difficulty with each chore varies. Painting a boat is not complicated but it is time consuming and requires careful preparation. The bottom needs to be painted once a season but painting the topside is not a yearly occurrence. The cost for both types of painting varies and many owners elect to hire a boatyard to do the work.

  1. Factors

    • Several factors need to be considered to determine the cost of painting a boat. Most painters charge by the foot so the size of the boat determines one part of the cost. The time spent in preparation, quality of the paint and details like adding designs are factored into the cost. In addition, unless the boat is on a trailer, generally under 25 feet, the boat will need to be hauled out of the water and put on stands for the job. The haul-out fees are generally $11 per foot. Also, what parts of the boat need to be painted is another factor.

    Bottom Painting

    • Boats kept in the water for more than a few months need to have anti-fouling paint applied to the bottom. Both salt and fresh water contains organisms such as algae, barnacles and slime. If the bottom is not painted with paint designed to protect the boat from these substances, a layer of slime will normally form first, opening the opportunity for larger life forms to attach to the bottom. Slime is made up of microscopic single-cell organisms. This is known as fouling and it can damage the hull if organisms accumulate. Bottom paint cost varies depending on brand and longevity and runs from $20 a gallon to $250.

    Painting the Topside

    • Wooden boats need a protective coat of paint to keep the wood from rotting. Fiberglass boats are covered in a gelcoat, a resin applied to the outer hull. Most gelcoats do not hold up beyond a few years due to exposure to the sun and other harsh environmental factors. If a waxed hull turns dull after only a few months, the gelcoat is not of a high quality and will need to be painted. Urethane finishes are the toughest, with lifetimes of 15 years or more. The topside paints average about $40 a gallon. Expect to pay preparation costs involving the removal of hardware and protecting non-removable parts to prevent paint over spray.

    Costs

    • Labor rates vary from state to state, from $40 to $75 an hour. Depending on the number of people used to do the job, expect to pay for at least eight hours of labor, depending on the size of the boat and how much is being painted. To paint the bottom of a 40-foot sailboat will cost about $1,000 with paint, materials and labor. If the entire boat will be painted and the boat is 40 feet in length, expect to pay several thousand dollars.

    Finding a Painter

    • As with many services, ask for references and talk to them before hiring a painter or a boat yard to do the job. You will be paying for the level or work, number of coats of paint required and environmental safeguards needed. Do not pay the entire cost up front. Pay half to begin the job to cover materials and the remainder when the boat is finished to your satisfaction. Also, since painting is best done when temperatures are between 70 and 80 F, and with humidity below 65 percent, consider doing the job in the off-season when boatyards are less busy. They may quote a discount.