Duffy Bottom Painting
Warm harbor water grows slime and barnacles fast. We haul, prep, and recoat with antifouling matched to how your Duffy actually gets used — so the hull stays clean and the motor isn't dragging a garden around behind it.
A good bottom job is mostly preparation. We haul the boat at our Huntington Beach yard, pressure wash while the growth is still soft, then look at what the existing coating is actually doing before anything new goes on. You get photos and a plain-English call on whether this is a scuff-and-recoat or a full strip — before we commit either of us to the bigger number.
What's included
- Haul-out, pressure wash, and a full hull inspection
- Sanding or soda-stripping, depending on the condition of the existing coating
- Fairing of minor gouges and blisters below the waterline
- Two coats of antifouling, with a third at the leading edges and running gear
- Fresh boot stripe and waterline touch-up
- Zinc anodes inspected and replaced as needed
- Shaft, strut, and prop cleaned and coated
Choosing the right paint
There is no single best bottom paint — it depends on whether the boat runs regularly or mostly sits, and how often you are willing to haul. We will walk you through the trade-offs and stock what actually fits your use.
Ablative (self-polishing)
Wears away slowly as the boat moves, so it stays fresh and never builds up into a thick, cracking shell. This is the right answer for most Duffys — they cruise often and slowly, which is exactly what ablatives like.
Hard modified epoxy
Holds up to in-water diver cleaning and higher speeds. Worth considering if your boat sits for long stretches between runs and gets scrubbed by a dive service.
How often does a Duffy need it?
In Huntington Harbour and Newport, most boats go 12 to 24 months between bottom jobs. Boats kept in the back channels, where the water is warmer and moves less, foul faster. If the motor sounds like it's working harder than it used to, or a diver is scrubbing more than twice a year, it's time.
Not sure how bad it is? Send us a photo from a diver's last visit, or we'll pull the boat and give you a look. The inspection is free if we do the work.
Typical pricing
| Boat | Scuff & recoat | Strip & recoat |
|---|---|---|
| Duffy 16 / 18 | $520–680 | $980–1,250 |
| Duffy 21 / 22 | $640–820 | $1,180–1,520 |
| Other boats to 30′ | $28–36 / ft | $55–72 / ft |
Ranges include haul-out, pressure wash, materials, and labor. Blister repair, running-gear coating, and new anodes are quoted separately.
How it works
Four steps, no surprises on the invoice
Inspect & quote
We look at the current coating — in the water or on the trailer — and quote either a scuff-and-recoat or a full strip. No guessing.
Haul & wash
The boat comes out and gets pressure washed the same day, while the growth is still soft and comes off cleanly.
Prep
Sand, strip, fair, and mask. This is where the time goes, and where a bottom job is won or lost.
Paint & splash
Two to three coats, proper cure time, new zincs, then straight back in the water.
Common questions
Bottom Painting, answered
How long is my boat out of the water?
Two to four days for a scuff-and-recoat, four to seven for a full strip. Cure time between coats is the part you can't rush.
Can you do it at my dock?
No — antifouling has to go on a dry hull, so the boat has to come out. We can arrange the lift and the transport, so the only thing you need to do is hand over the keys.
Do I need to be there?
Only if you want to be. We send photos at the inspection stage and again before the first coat goes on.
What if you find blisters?
We stop and call you. Small ones get ground out and faired as part of the job. If it's widespread, that's a different conversation and a different quote — you'll see photos first.
Ready when you are
Tell us your boat and your harbor, and we'll come back with a free written estimate — usually within one business day.