Boat lifts/bottom paint for a new boat
 

I am building a M3800 Mystic center console. I boat in salt water in Connecticut. I do not want to trailer or rack store this boat, I want to just show up and go. I am looking for a good but reasonable way to store the boat. I hate to bottom paint it but I see Petit has that Black Widow bottom paint that is burnishable so it will be shiny. How bad will this effect resale? Also what is a good lift that doesn't have a crazy price tag. Any suggestions and opinions are appreciated.

I would go with a lift before paint. Paint needs to be sanded and reapplied every so many years, so a lift will pay for it self

Been there done that.
I found that I used the boat more when it was bottom painted and just sitting in a slip
Lifts are expensive new, but when you try to sell one it seems damn near impossible,.

So find a used one, its pennies on the dollar.

the lift will be way cheaper in the long run than leaving it in the water and boat stays in better condition

I can completely relate to your situation and I can completely understand people who aren't in your position trying to talk you into a lift but my advice would be that if you DO go with the bottom painting thing have it done properly and carefully and photograph the stages from start to finish . That way if the time comes to sell and a potential buyer is in the same situation that you are now , then they'll know it was done properly at least.

Does anyone have any experience with one of these Sea Pens? Looks interesting waiting on a price

No experience but watching the vid, it lifts the boat, but not out of the water. There remains water around the hull even though a thin layer. Walking on it you see the water come up

Look at drive on boat lifts

No experience w/those type of floating lift things, but read a lot of complaints/issues about them.

If your building a new 38, just get a new lift, you will love how clean and safe it keeps the boat. Your not buying a trailer, just put the money into the lift.

No way I would bottom paint a new 600k+ boat. A lift will cost less than the amount the boat depreciates because of bottom paint. The lift also has value on its own if you sell the boat.

the answer is simple. the ultimate in lifts. 10 seconds up 10 seconds down

https://sunstreamboatlifts.com/floatlift/