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  One of the first things that people notice on a boat is how great or poor a paint job manufacturers or owners have done. Not many people check out the bottom of a boat, though that part also needs to be kept looking its best. Using these steps, you can make sure that your boat has the best bottom around.
  
  

Getting the boat prepared

• You will need to lift your boat out of the water so that you are able to effectively paint the bottom. When the boat is comfortably resting above the ground with enough space for you to maneuver underneath it, you can install jackscrew pads to make sure that the boat will not move. You will also want to go around the boat making a crease in masking tape and attaching it to the rim of the boat. This is to prevent water from dripping down and destroying the paint job.
  
  There are several options when lifting your boat, including boat lifts; lifts are often used to examine the bottoms of boats without dragging them too far away from the water.
  
  

Sanding

• For the sanding part, you will want to make sure that you have a mask over your face so that the small debris does not go into your body. Using a drywall sander, sand the entire bottom of your boat. Depending on how long it has been and what the condition of the boat is, you may also need to pressure wash the bottom first.
  
  If you have the time, try manually sanding as you'll be able to pay more attention to detail and feel trouble spots better. An electric sander will still be effective, however, and is a much faster tool.
  
  

Painting

• For this, you will continue to wear your mask as you apply epoxy to the bottom of the boat. This is to help make sure that the paint goes on smoothly even over any small cracks which you may have. Some people alternate colors when they decide to paint their boat's bottom. Others stay with the same color over and over.
  
  Please note that not just any paint will do! www.SuperMarinePaint.com and www.BottomPaintStore.com are great resources for finding the right paint.
  
  

Drying

• Leave the boat to dry for a few days before relaunching it. If you need to repaint anything quickly, you can use a hair dryer to make sure that the paint is fully dried.
  
  This means your boat should be sheltered if you are in a rainy season and, just like a car, also sheltered in bright sunlight to avoid spotting.