Short answer: Harbor Marine refinishes boats for Atlanta owners in our Buford shop: hull sides, consoles and helms for boats kept in storage, at home or on Lake Lanier. Call (770) 967-8495 for a quote.
City boats, long summers
Atlanta summers are long and hot, and many city boats sit in open storage lots or Lanier slips for months. Even covered storage cannot stop the wear of a few hard seasons on the water. Faded hulls, chalky consoles and mismatched old repairs are common. A refinish brings it all back to one clean finish.
What we refinish
- Hull sides and topsides.
- Consoles, helms and dash panels.
- Areas around past repairs.
- Bottom repair and painting.
How the job goes
For a city boat, we often start with storage or ramp scuffs. Those are repaired and blended first. Then the surface is sanded, faired and masked, and the finish goes on in our shop. Since transport may be involved, we plan the timing so the boat moves only once each way.
Getting a city boat to the shop
Our shop is in Buford, north of the city near the south end of Lake Lanier. Owners with trucks can tow up on a weekday. Boats in a Lanier slip come out at a ramp or marina first. If you do not have a tow vehicle, see boat transport in Atlanta.
Storage facility damage
If the boat picked up scrapes or scuffs in a tight storage bay, those can be repaired and blended into the refinish. Send photos when you call.
Timing
The off-season is best, when the boat is not missing lake days. Tell us your target date.
Pricing
Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:
- The area being refinished.
- Repairs first.
- Prep.
- Transport from the city.
Planning around the city
Getting a boat out of town takes planning. We schedule pickup, the refinish and the return together, so the boat makes one trip each way. Tell us any dates you need the boat back, such as a summer trip.
What to photograph
Send photos of the whole boat from each side, close-ups of the worst areas, the helm and any scrapes. Good photos help us plan the scope before the boat arrives.
Keeping the finish fresh in storage
Covered storage protects the finish best. In an open lot, use a fitted cover and add a protective coating after the finish cures.
Doing more in one trip
Since getting a boat out of the city takes effort, it pays to plan other work for the same shop visit. A refinish pairs well with gel coat repair on storage scuffs, outdrive painting, engine service or a drive inspection. We can lay out a combined plan so the boat comes back finished and ready for the season. Our Atlanta boat repair page lists everything we do for city owners.
Before the boat goes back into storage
Let the finish cure fully before the boat goes back into a tight storage bay, and ask the facility to take care when moving it. A fresh finish is easy to scuff before it has fully hardened.
Refinish or move on?
Some owners wonder whether to refinish the boat they have or replace it. If the engine, drive and hull are sound, and the boat fits how your family uses it, a refinish is often the more sensible path. It gives you a boat you already know with a finish that looks right again. If the boat has deeper problems, we will tell you so you can weigh your options with all the facts.
A note on timing
Spring is the busiest season, so the earlier you call, the easier it is to have the boat back before the first warm weekend. Fall and early winter calls usually get the most flexible scheduling for pickup, shop time and return.
Related and nearby
Atlanta owners often combine a refinish with transport and a detail. Nearby, we also refinish boats in Alpharetta, in Suwanee and in Buford. Damage under the paint is handled by our gel coat repair in Atlanta team, and a detail in Atlanta keeps new paint protected. See all our boat repair in Atlanta, the main boat painting page, or get in touch.