Grady-White Boats Gulfstream 232, Owner'S Manual, Page: 43 / 76

6-3
Chapter 6: Maintenance and Service
Some gel-coat damage and imperfections such as nicks and scratches can be repaired by
obtaining a color match patch kit. This kit can be purchased through your Grady-White dealer.
Instructions are included in the patch kit.
W A R N I N G
M.E.K.P. (Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide), gel-coat and acetone are flammable and hazardous
chemicals that must be handled properly. Follow instructions carefully. After the gel-coat is
catalyzed, it will soon heat up and put off fumes. When finished with catalyzed chemicals, or if
they start to build up heat, submerse completely in water until cool.
Bottom Paint
If your boat is left in the water for more than a few days at a time, the hull bottom below the
waterline should be painted with anti-fouling paint to protect it from marine growth and barnacles
that hinder performance. Since anti-fouling paint slowly dissolves, yearly inspection and cleaning
of the hull bottom to prevent marine growth is advised. Repaint when necessary. To help prevent
blistering, use an epoxy barrier coat to be applied in conjunction with the anti-fouling paint.
Grady Drives
The finish on your engine bracket and swim platform is designed to enhance your boat’s
appearance and help protect the bracket and platform from corrosion. If the finish should be
accidentally scratched, repair it immediately. Damaged areas can be repaired with the “Touch-Up
Kit” included with your product when it shipped from the factory. Please follow the instructions for
using the “Touch-Up Kit”.
Your bracket is made from marine grade aluminum. Should you desire to coat your bracket with
anti-fouling or “bottom-paint”, chose a paint that is intended for aluminum. Follow the paint
manufacturer’s instruction exactly.
Caution must be taken to separate bottom paints not intended for aluminum from your
aluminum bracket (consult your paint dealer).
The bracket is equipped with a sacrificial anode. By corroding away, the anode sacrifices itself
to help reduce galvanic corrosion to your bracket in salt or brackish water. They are easy to replace;
inspect and replace them regularly. Do not paint the surface of the anode.
Brackets are designed to be water tight when properly installed. Inspect seal integrity and bolt
tightness regularly. Loose bolts or insufficient seal around bolts and bracket to transom can lead to
bracket corrosion or lack of hull seal. Bracket interior is easily accessed through the deck plate.
Finger tighten only when replacing the deck plate after bracket interior inspection.
Brackets are equipped with a drain plug in the bottom of the bracket near the transom. This
plug should only be used if water is found inside the bracket. When replacing drain plug, coat
threads with a Teflon thread sealant and do not over tighten.