Short answer: Harbor Marine refinishes Lake Lanier boats in our Buford shop near the south end of the lake: faded hull sides, consoles and helms, repaired, prepped and finished. Call (770) 967-8495 for a quote.
What a season on Lanier does to a finish
Lake Lanier draws more than 10 million visitors a year, and most boats here spend long summer days in full sun. Light reflecting off the water hits the hull sides from below while the sun beats on the deck from above. Over a few seasons, color fades, gel coat chalks, and consoles and helms turn dull. Add dock rash, repairs that no longer match and stains at the waterline, and a boat can start to look older than it runs.
When polishing no longer brings it back, a refinish gives the surface a new finish.
Getting a lake boat to the shop
Painting cannot happen in a slip or on a lift. The boat has to come out of the water and spend time in a controlled space. Our shop is at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford, near the south end of the lake. If the boat lives in the water, it comes out at a ramp or marina first. Owners without a trailer or tow vehicle can use boat transport on Lake Lanier.
How the job goes
Once a Lanier boat is out of the water and in our bay, we start by washing off lake film and checking the hull for blisters, cracks or soft spots hidden under the old finish. Those get repaired first. Then the surface is sanded and faired, the rub rail, hardware and waterline are masked, and the finish goes on in a controlled space. After it cures, masking comes off and we check every edge before the boat goes back to the lake.
Waterline and hull sides
The band just above the waterline takes the most abuse on a lake boat: stains, fender rub, wake splash and dock contact. It is often the first area owners want refinished. We repair and prep the area so the new finish has a clean, straight line and holds up.
Consoles and helms
The helm is what you look at every trip. Sun, sunscreen and wet hands wear it down. Refinishing the console and dash can make a boat feel new again from the driver's seat. We mask off gauges, switches and wiring before any finish goes on.
Plan around the season
Most Lanier owners book refinishing in fall or winter, so the boat is ready by spring. If you need it back for a certain weekend, tell us when you call.
Pricing
Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:
- How much of the boat is being refinished.
- Repairs needed before paint.
- Prep needed on the surface.
- Whether the boat needs a haul-out and transport.
Bottom paint for boats kept in the water
A boat that stays in a Lanier slip from spring to fall picks up growth and staining below the waterline. Bottom repair and painting can clean that up and give the hull a fresh, even surface below the waterline. Ask about it when you call, especially if your boat lives in the water all season.
Paint or gel coat on a lake boat
Many Lanier runabouts and cruisers left the factory with gel coat. A respray of gel coat keeps the original look and can be polished later. A marine paint system can give deeper gloss and more color choices. We help you pick based on how the boat is kept and how you use it.
Caring for a new finish on the lake
Give a fresh finish time to cure before heavy scrubbing or waxing. After that, rinse the boat with fresh water after trips, wipe the waterline before stains set, and set fenders so they ride on the rub rail, not the hull side. A cover between trips cuts sun damage more than anything else.
Related and nearby
Many lake owners pair a refinish with fiberglass repair or a detail. Nearby, we also refinish boats in Buford, in Flowery Branch and in Cumming. Damage under the paint is handled by our gel coat repair on Lake Lanier team, and a detail on Lake Lanier keeps new paint protected. See all our boat repair on Lake Lanier, the main boat painting page, or get in touch.