Bottom Paint and Haul-Out Cost Calculator

If your boat lives in the water in Florida, the bottom is under constant attack from barnacles, slime, weed and tube worms. Antifouling bottom paint slows that growth, and in warm salt water it wears out faster than in cooler climates. This calculator estimates a typical haul-out and bottom paint job priced per foot of boat length, which is how most Florida boatyards quote.

What a bottom job includes

A standard bottom job in a Florida boatyard usually includes several steps, each of which may appear as a separate line on the invoice:

• Haul-out: lifting the boat with a travel lift or forklift, priced per foot.
• Pressure wash: removing growth and loose paint, often required by the yard before work begins.
• Blocking and stands: setting the boat on blocks or jack stands; some yards charge daily lay days after an initial period.
• Surface prep: sanding the old paint to give the new coat something to grip. Yards must control dust because antifouling paint contains biocides.
• Painting: usually two coats, with an extra coat at the waterline and leading edges where wear is greatest.
• Running gear: shafts, props, struts, trim tabs and outboard lower units often need special antifouling products or prop coatings.
• Anodes: zincs or aluminum anodes are usually replaced while the boat is out.
• Launch: returning the boat to the water.

Because so many items are separate, two quotes that look far apart may be closer once you compare the same scope.

How often Florida boats need new bottom paint

In Florida's warm water, many boatyards and paint makers suggest repainting roughly every 12 to 24 months for boats kept in the water, depending on paint type, water temperature, salinity, how often the boat runs and how often a diver cleans the hull. Boats in South Florida and the Keys often need attention sooner than those in North Florida. Product labels and manufacturer guidance give their own intervals, and real performance varies. If you see heavy growth within weeks of cleaning, or paint wearing through to the primer, the paint is likely done.

Boats stored in dry stack or on a trailer usually do not need antifouling paint at all. In fact, some antifouling paints should not be left out of the water for long periods; ask before applying paint to a boat that will be stored dry.

Choosing a paint type

Ablative paints wear away slowly as the boat moves, exposing fresh biocide. They do not build up as much over years, which reduces the need for stripping, and many tolerate haul-outs. They are a common choice for boats used regularly.

Hard paints form a tougher surface that holds up to frequent hull cleaning and higher speeds but can build up layers over time, eventually requiring stripping.

Premium and high-copper paints contain more biocide or advanced formulas and cost more per gallon. Some owners in heavy-growth areas find they are worth it; others do fine with mid-range paints and regular diver cleaning.

Florida has no statewide ban on copper bottom paints as of this writing, though environmental rules on paint application and yard runoff apply. Some owners choose copper-free products for environmental reasons. Follow the label and local rules, especially if you do your own painting.

Diver cleaning: the cheaper half of the job

Between haul-outs, most wet-slip boats in Florida get regular hull cleaning by a diver, commonly priced per foot per visit. In heavy-growth areas, monthly cleaning is common, and some owners clean every two or three weeks in summer. A clean bottom improves speed and fuel economy and helps paint last. Ask the diver to check and report on anodes and running gear.

When to strip the bottom

After many seasons of paint, layers build up, crack and flake. Painting over a failing base wastes money because the new paint falls off with the old. Stripping, either chemically, by sanding or by soda or media blasting, takes the bottom down to the gelcoat or barrier coat. It is labor-intensive and can cost more than the paint job itself. This is also the time to inspect for blisters and decide whether to add an epoxy barrier coat. The calculator's "strip" option adds a rough allowance for this work.

DIY vs. boatyard

Some Florida yards allow owners to do their own bottom work; many do not, or require use of the yard's paint or contractors, and some charge a do-it-yourself fee. Bottom paint contains biocides and sanding produces hazardous dust, so wear proper protection and follow the yard's environmental rules. DIY saves labor but not haul-out, lay days or materials, and a good premium paint for a 28-foot boat can cost hundreds of dollars for materials alone.

Combining jobs while the boat is out

Haul-outs are expensive, so make the most of them. While the boat is out, consider:

• Inspecting and replacing through-hull fittings and seacocks
• Checking cutless bearings, shaft seals and struts on inboards
• Servicing outboard lower units
• Waxing topsides
• Inspecting the transducer and trim tabs
• Checking for blisters and hull damage

Each item adds cost, but doing them while the boat is already out saves a second haul.

Florida timing tips

Boatyards get busy in spring as owners prepare for summer and again before and after hurricane season. Scheduling in late fall or winter can be easier. Avoid scheduling paint work just before a named storm; many yards stop work and secure boats when a hurricane threatens. Some owners combine a haul-out with their hurricane plan; see hurricane haul-out and storage.

Questions to ask the boatyard

• Is the haul-out price per foot round trip, including launch?
• How many free days on the hard before lay day charges start?
• Which paint brand and how many coats?
• Is the waterline and leading edge getting extra coats?
• Are prop, shaft and outboard lower units included?
• Is anode replacement included or extra?
• What warranty or guarantee covers the work?
• Can I see examples of their recent bottom jobs?

Frequently asked questions

Does a trailered boat need bottom paint?

Usually not. Boats that are pulled out after each use generally do not grow much. Bottom paint can also complicate maintenance and resale for trailer boats. If you plan to leave the boat in the water for days or weeks at a time, ask a yard for advice.

Why is my bottom job priced per foot?

Length is a simple, consistent way to estimate both lift work and surface area. Wide or deep boats like catamarans and trawlers may be priced higher per foot because they have more bottom area.

Can I go longer between bottom jobs?

Regular diver cleaning, frequent use and a quality ablative paint can stretch intervals, but in Florida warm water most wet-slipped boats need paint well within a few years. Waiting too long risks hard growth that is expensive to remove and can damage gelcoat.

Is a barrier coat worth it?

An epoxy barrier coat under the antifouling helps keep water out of fiberglass laminate and can reduce osmotic blistering in boats kept in the water long-term. It is most cost-effective when the bottom is already stripped. Ask a surveyor or yard whether your hull would benefit; many newer boats have one from the factory.