Best boot topping paint?

Poignard

Poignard

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Jul 2005
Messages
55,653
Location
South London
Visit site
My blue boot topping was painted with Blakes (now Hempel) Boot Top Paint several years ago and has been touched up as required. It was advertised as "hard" and "scrubbable". That was a lie. It is very soft and every time I scrub it the stuff smears onto the topsides.

I've decided enough is enough and I'm going to scrape it off and try another brand.

Any recommendations, please?

Does it have to be a yachty product; would something like garage floor paint be ok?
 
A genuine boot topping is there to provide antifouling properties in an area that tends to grow more weed than some other areas. Any conventional paint will not provide antifouling properties. by their nature most antifoul paints when scrubbed wet will release an amount of colour but I have had reasonable success with using hard racing antifouling on the boot topping. Any that does smear onto the topsides will was off easily with a sponge. If your boot topping is well above the waterline then changing to a conventional paint will not be an issue.

yoda
 
I repainted my boot-top 7 or 8 years ago with International 2-pack gloss and it has lasted very well. It is above the waterline most of the time however and I was careful to get a good key when i painted it on.
 
Why bother with the boot top.

Its a load of extra hassle to paint it on and it seems to serve no useful purpose.
 
For many years I used International boot topping but then I switched to Blakes (now Hempel) as my source couldn't 't get International anymore. I've found Blakes/Hempel to be very soft and smudgey and I'll switch back maybe this Spring. I repaint it every year.
 
I think there is a difference between boats kept on swinging moorings and those kept in a marina. I used to used Blakes boot-topping for years when I had a boat on a mooring but my new boat came with an enamelled boot top. This has proved entirely satisfactory at my marina berth. There is a gap of about a cm between the A/F and the boot top which is white gelcoat. Normally, an occasional wipe or brush round is all that is needed to keep it clean, though the gel section usually needs de-yellowing.

One thing that always puzzles me Is why so many boats on moorings have dirty waterlines, when the owner will be visiting by dinghy anyway, and a quick wipe round takes about one minute.
 
NormanS said:
'Cos it looks nice, and reduces the apparent height of the topsides. Same idea as a cove line.
Click to expand...

I agree. I just have a wide line (7cms amidships) in dark blue International Perfection between the white topsides and the light blue antifouling. It looks quite neat and makes a sleek hull appear even more sleek. IMHO, of course.
 
parsifal said:
No smearing when you scrub it?
Click to expand...

Well it comes off taking the dirt with it. The Trilux used to have to be scrubbed regularly, the Hempel only needs the occasional clean. Seems to withstand fouling much better than Trilux. Just my experience.
 
I'm toying with using vinyl tape for a boot-top. Plan is to use an over-wide tape and, after applying, cut away the excess very carefully with a scalpel, so as to maintain an apparently constant width. Thoughts?
 
I have used International 'Toplac' gloss, looks good and used
for years ,usually have to scrub a few times a year but no problems and available in many colours
Repaint every two years min

Mike
 
Last edited:
We use a 2 pack gloss above coppercoat, which I took above the waterline before adding the boot top. Very hard-wearing and easily scrubbable if it gets dirty. The coppercoat deals with the waterline. We're on a swinging mooring.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top