creating a boot stripe

B

booboo

Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2005
RO Number
16369
Messages
168
last year my marina travel lift tore into my bootstripe tape on my boat. Because I did not like the way it looked after trying to repair it with a new section of tape (that kept coming off underway despite acetone and wax stripper being used to prep the fiberglass section that it was being applied to).
I finally had enough of this frustration and removed the entire stripe. Now I want one back but do not want tape again. I thought about the 2 part paint from interlux but people tell me not to do this because the aft 1/3 to 1/2 of the boot stripe will become dull overtime compared to the front half because of wear when the boat is underway. btw, this a 2004 silverton 39 my that is stripeless. Hudson river is the location. any help and specifically commentary on best paint for a motor yacht or if the wear issue with the aft part of the paint is that noticible. comments please
 
I've always painted my bootstripes...with bootstripe paint. all the paint co's have it...what is in tape that makes it not get dull? {he asked rhetorically}
Tape it off and paint the sucker.
 
I've always painted mine using ordinary marine polyurethane. I think "bootstripe paint" is the same paint in a smaller can.

Going around corners is largely a matter of trial and error. You can do any shape with masking tape; just mask your line, stand back and look at it. Change as desired. When you get what you like, THEN paint.
 
I agree with what capndick told you.
My boat lost a section of tape like yours did.
I used a light green colored tape (cant remember more than that about it). The folks at the boat store said it would give the sharpest line. Just remember to really press the tape down firmly, otherwise the paint will seep under. I was lucky, because the part where the tape used to be was visible enough for me to follow. I just took my time and looked at the boat from all directions to make sure there wasn't any sags or bumps (in the tape) to make the job look good. This was the hardest, and most time comsuming part of the whole thing. Once I was happy with that I used Interlux Brightside Polyurethane paint. It's a one part
paint. It levels very nicely, and has held up great, even after two years of service.

Take care, Happy boating to you this season!

Jimmyboy
 
I don't know if this will help cuz I haven't tried it yet. Harbor freight has a laser level on sale for $7. It shoots the regular laser light but also has a difuser type cap the breaks the single laser light to a line on a wall(or hull) and goes around corners.
 
Pettit Boot Top paint. Nice thing about this stuff is it comes in a little 8 oz. can which is going to last you for years anyway. I recoat it every 3 years or so when I haul out for new bottom paint.

I wish they had inexpensive laser levels around when I did the boot stripe around the chines and bow by eyeballing the blue tape. You can do it that way but the laser would be a lot faster.
 
Yeah, the laser would be great...sure beats making a level out of hose like in the old days.
Dick
 
charlie,
can you please provide the link to that laser level, model number etc, i am interested in purchasing, of course if boat fix has this i will get it from les
 
harborfreight.com Some things are good values; some are junk. Buyer be ware! I got a genny for my home from them for 1/2 of HD or Lowes.......

When I was finalizing the sale and delivery of my boat, the detailer was starting to apply a black strip to my white boat. I had him remove it. It is the first thing to get scratch or marred and then looks bad. I've never regretted not having that silly strip of plastic tape! Don't bother; just keep the hull nicely polished.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top