Hi Wayne, Painting your hull is no big deal. All the paint companies, International, Woolsey, Petit, etc. have detailed information about their products and how to apply them. Just visit your local WEST, or other boat supply store and pick up their brochures. It's mainly a matter of following instructions. I have used the two part epoxy paint system and the single component paint system. I find that the single component paint system is easier to use, because it keeps the remainder of the can useable for touch-ups and repainting. With the two component system, once you've mixed the two components, your working time is limited, and whatever you don't use will harden and is garbage. If you have an existing boot-top stripe, then just use 3Ms blue (fine line) masking tape, and repaint. There are specific boot top paints made, but they are primarily for salt water use. For your M17 you can use anything. If you are not in the water for the whole season, then you are not concerned with slim at the waterline....... Connie ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.