Black-Bottom Boat Experiences

[jjackkrash]

Anyone with a black-bottom boat, how does it look/hold up over time? I trailer my boat and it scuffs up a bit coming on and off the trailer (there is not a great way to get a 200 on and off a trailer). With a white bottom, it is not really that noticeable unless you are under the boat looking, but I was wondering what you folks think about a black-bottom boat.

[NautiqueJeff]

I have owned many black hull boats. I think they look great, and if you take care of them, they hold up fine.

I have never understood the concern about the trailer scuffs. If it is out of the water on the trailer, you won't see them. If it is in the water, you won't see them. When do you see the scuffs?

[jjackkrash]

I have owned many black hull boats. I think they look great, and if you take care of them, they hold up fine.

I have never understood the concern about the trailer scuffs. If it is out of the water on the trailer, you won't see them. If it is in the water, you won't see them. When do you see the scuffs?

I agree 100% on the scuffs, but I have always had a white hull, so I was not sure if it made a difference or if black was somehow more noticeable. Thanks for confirming.

[mikenbike211]

Anyone with a black-bottom boat, how does it look/hold up over time? I trailer my boat and it scuffs up a bit coming on and off the trailer (there is not a great way to get a 200 on and off a trailer). With a white bottom, it is not really that noticeable unless you are under the boat looking, but I was wondering what you folks think about a black-bottom boat.

Trailer depth is going to be key with a black hull boat so it doesn’t rub too bad when coming on. Plus keep the bunk carpet clean.


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[migs]

If you wipe down your boat each & every time after you pull it out, and dont ever beach it - your black bottom will look just as good as your white bottom. No difference.

[bturner]

I know 2 people with black hulls and neither would do it again, at least if they had a choice about it (ordering versus buying used). A lot though depends on how anal you are about your stuff. I see tons of people leasing black cars that look fine from 20' but are an embarrassment within 10'. They never hand wash and if it gets waxed it's typically through a detailer and once a year. If you're in that group that's fine with that (and you all know who you are), then buy black and who cares if its scratched. On the other hand if that's the kind of thing that would drive you nuts then black on a boat is probably not for you. And BTW I'm not buying that you can keep your bunks clean enough that if you power load you won't pick up scratches. Heck power loading with brand new carpet will scratch the hull, having a white hull will just hide them better. Now you could float your boat on the trailer and that I'll buy will work but then all the ramps will have have the depth and approach angle to allow you to do that type of loading.

My boat has black sides and accents, lives on a lift with a waterline cover and I consider it below my standards after it's just sat there for a week with no use. It's just a plain fact that black or dark colors take more effort to maintain than colors like silver or white. Imperfections are just easier to see on black or dark colors than light colors. The level of perfection that you're willing to live with will be more of a guide than anything else as to if black is for you.

[nohlan_4]

I have black and probably wont do it again based on how I moor my boat and the water spots visible from being splashed constantly. Hard to keep it looking decent.

[sixcampbells]

I had a black bottom G23 and I trailer. I went back to white because of the trailer scuffs and black is just harder to maintain. My boat sits in my shop all year long and believe me, you can see the scuffs. Made me crazy and it was a crap load of work to keep them wet sanded or buffed out. But that’s just my experience for what it’s worth. White forever for me.


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[markj]

Once you go black... I've had solid black hulls for 15 years now. Not gonna go back to white. Black is just too sexy. A little more work, but meh, it's worth it. Taking care of toys is half the fun for some people.

[nyryan2001]

I’ve had black bottom Gs since 2013 and love it.

[core-rider]

I think it's cute when people complain about black hull bottoms! Truth is if you aren't going to take care of it no matter the color it will look bad over time... darker colors just make it stand out quicker. Use your own discretion, but obviously you know where I stand in the subject!

[Kmayotte]

The black chevron and accent stripe on my G show just about any imperfection far quicker than the blue and white on my boat. I'd like to think I take pretty good care of it but I'd have a hard time with a black hull. My boat stays in the water the entire summer (Gasp) and it's bottom cleaned (acid washed, gasp) every fall back to new. I'd have to imagine a black hull would show oxidation within a few seasons. It's a lot easier to care for gelcoat if you boat is on the trailer or lift after every use. Just not my reality.

[jjackkrash]

There's no doubt in my mind that Black takes more work and is the hardest color to care for. That said, my main concern is really with the visibility of trailer bunk scratches (and not the hull or the sides of the hull generally) because I do not plan on lifting it off the trailer and buffing those scratches out with any regularity. I still feel like because bunk scratches can't be seen when the boat is in the water and are hard to see when its on the trailer that I need to just get over the fact that I know they are there and not worry abut it.

[Infinity]

I have black bottom boat and the carpet catches/holds sand, debris, etc...and was scratching my hull up pretty well. I also basically float on/off the trailer and do not power load.
My carpet was getting worn so this past Spring, I ordered and installed the GatorBak bunks (composite material), its grooved so any water/debris run off easily and I don't have wet carpet bunks for 3 days now after dunking it. No new scratches since doing that....to fix the old scratches I would have to suspend the boat by the lifting rings to do it right and its not very high on my to do list right now.
Obviously the con, is the much higher initial cost of the Gatorbak vs carpet....the pro is that you don't have to replace every few years and no scratches (if you are like me and trailer everywhere). You gotta plan to keep the boat for a while to see any return, but that is the direction I went and I went down that path initially cause of all the scratches I was seeing on my hull from the carpet bunks.

[jjackkrash]

I ordered and installed the GatorBak bunks (composite material), its grooved so any water/debris run off easily and I don't have wet carpet bunks for 3 days now after dunking it.

I have been looking hard at an option like this. It is good the see composites work.