📞 (562) 592-2841 📍 2901 Edinger Ave. Building B, Huntington Beach, CA 92649

Bottom Painting Services

Antifouling protection that keeps your hull clean, fast, and protected.

What Is Bottom Paint?

Marine Antifouling Protection

Marine bottom paint — also called antifouling paint — is a specialized coating applied to the underwater portion of a boat's hull to inhibit the growth of marine organisms. This practice is essential for any vessel that spends significant time in the water.


The submerged hull is a perfect surface for algae, barnacles, and slime to attach — a process known as biofouling. Left unchecked, biofouling dramatically increases drag, reduces fuel efficiency, and can cause long-term damage to the hull itself.


At Sunset Aquatic Shipyard, our experienced painters apply the right antifouling system for your boat's usage pattern, the local water conditions, and your budget — backed by over 40 years of hands-on experience in Huntington Harbour.

New bottom paint preparation

Why It Matters

The Benefits of Regular Bottom Painting

1

Performance & Fuel Efficiency

A fouled hull creates excessive drag that forces your engine to work up to 20% harder, consuming more fuel and reducing your top speed. A clean, painted hull keeps you running at peak efficiency.

2

Hull Protection

Bottom paint serves as a vital protective barrier. For fiberglass boats it prevents saltwater-induced blistering; for wooden boats it guards against marine borers that can compromise structural integrity.

3

Reduced Long-Term Costs

While there's an upfront cost, a properly coated hull requires less frequent cleaning and helps avoid expensive repairs caused by long-term marine growth damage.

4

Ongoing Maintenance

Bottom paints need monthly scrubbing by a diver to remove growth. Our painters stay in communication about when it's time to haul out and repaint — typically every two to three years.

Know Your Options

Types of Antifouling Paint

Bottom paints come in several formulations, each suited for different boat types and usage patterns. Our team will help you choose the right system for your vessel.

Paint Type How It Works Best For
Hard Paint Creates a durable, non-eroding film. Biocides are held in a hard, porous matrix and leach out upon contact with water. Effectiveness diminishes as biocide depletes. High-speed boats and vessels that are frequently cleaned or trailered.
Soft / Ablative Paint Wears away slowly over time like a bar of soap, continuously exposing a fresh layer of biocide (typically copper). Movement through the water activates the erosion process. Regularly used boats and boats that stay on a trailer part time.

Major Service

New Bottom — Full Preparation & Application

A "new bottom" is a full-system repaint — stripping the hull back, making any necessary repairs, and applying fresh primer and antifouling coats from scratch. This service is recommended when the existing paint buildup is too thick, when blistering or damage is present, or when switching paint systems. The result is maximum adhesion and the longest-lasting protection possible.

Step 1 — Bare hull preparation

Step 1

Hull Preparation

We begin by hauling your vessel and thoroughly pressure-washing the bottom. Any existing paint is assessed — if a full strip is required, we sand the bottom back to bare substrate. The hull surface is then inspected for blisters, osmotic damage, or structural issues that need addressing before painting begins.

Step 2 — Marking the waterline

Step 2

Waterline Marking

Precision matters. Our team carefully marks the waterline using tape, ensuring a clean, straight edge where the antifouling paint will meet the boat's topsides. A crisp waterline is both a functional boundary and a mark of professional craftsmanship.

Step 3 — Primer application

Step 3

Barrier Coat & Primer

Before any antifouling paint goes on, we apply a barrier coat to seal the substrate and prevent osmotic blistering. We then apply two full coats of primer, building the foundation for the antifouling system. Proper priming is what separates a paint job that lasts from one that peels.

Step 4 — New bottom complete

Step 4

Antifouling Coats & Launch

We apply the chosen antifouling topcoat — two coats across the bottom and three coats at the waterline. Running gear — props, shafts, and struts — receive special attention with the correct coatings. Final inspection, launch, and you're back on the water with a hull that's protected for years to come.

Our Work

Bottom Painting Gallery

Bare hull preparation Waterline marking Two coats of primer applied Completed new bottom Bottom painting in progress Bottom painting detail

Schedule Your Bottom Paint

Contact us today to schedule your bottom paint service.

(562) 592-2841 Request a Quote