am trying to decide on a graphic for the new 288 and have heard that Mitch said if you leave the boat in the water NOT to have any paint below the water line, because it could pimple. The boat would be pulled every couple of weeks for cleaning and such and we only keep it in the water 5-6 months, but still would it be bad to have paint below the water.. Thanks Chris

I have no direct expreience, but if Mitch says not to, I would respect his advise.

Ofcourse I wouldn't go against Mitch's advice, just wasn't sure if that was the case or not, as I heard it second hand... I will contact Mitch directly and ask..

Every Sunsation I can think of has the graphics on the side on the boat, under water!

I talked w/ Mitch yesterday, and he does not reccomend ANY paint be under the water line. It might blister in a short time or it might never blister, he said it depends on alot of things, but the only way to be truly safe it to keep it above.

There are a few standard graphics that are right at the water line and a few that look to be slightly above. Mitch also said the ones at the wateline should be o.k. because slight wave action would keep them from being totally submerged all the time when docked.

How long is too long? a season? or a week?

I gotta say, EVERY sunsation I have seen, with the exception of one (all white) has graphics under the water! So if this is a nono, there are many that aren't right out there!

Jeff, I told him this would be my first time slipping any boat and that I would be pulling it once every 2 and at the most 3 weeks to clean and that our boating season is only 6 months. he said although that should be o.k. whater chemisty and water parameter all play a part, it very well could pimple the paint and it may not, the only way to be sure is keep the paint high enough, thats basically the only clear cut answer.. he wont guarantee that the paint under the water won't..

What brought this up is my friends with 26 sonics, from what I have heard ALL of them had their paint pimple where it touched the water, even the new 02 has some very small pimples, 26 sonic from the board had his paint trimmed back and above because his was pimpling. and i'm sure the hudson river water has a part in it.. too many variables..

P.S. for the record I believe I heard the second hand info through a Kanookster post, because of how his graphic goes right to the bottom someone commented about it..