Black Bitumen Paint

[ducked]

Started painting the keels with this today, using general purpose Bostik stuff from B&Q, 15.60 for 2.5 L, so far just two "control" surfaces, port side of cast iron ballast keel and inner surface of port side bilge keel, which were wire brushed and then abraded with aluminium dry.

It MAY be possible to "aluminiumise" this paint wet in situ, but it will probably be too messy

Later on I'll also black the other surfaces that were "primed" with sunflower oil and aluminium, once this dries.

Cheaper general purpose black bitumen paint is available on't web (eg Cromar Black Bitumen Paint - 5 ltr £17.05 https://www.dortechdirect.co.uk free delivery) but I note that SML do boat specific Ballastic Black at £43.20 incl. VAT for 5 ltr“Compared to similar products, Ballastic Black has higher volume solids, making it an extremely cost effective solution”

Probably an unanswerable question without a lot of testing, but I wonder if this (still cheap by boat paint standards) is likely to be worth the extra?

 

[rotrax]

The SML is what many narrowboats have applied to their steel hulls. Seems to last 3 years in fresh water.

 

[The Q]

It's also the traditional below water coating of Norfolk broads boats, but it really worked if the boat was kept in the fresh water areas, but occasionally went down river to Yarmouth like the wherries, to the salt water..

 

[ducked]

The SML is what many narrowboats have applied to their steel hulls. Seems to last 3 years in fresh water.

IiRC they make it clear that marrowbots are thier main market, but there is also mention of “marine” application. i ale that to mean seawater, unless they are using the term rather loosely.

Anywsy Ive probably got enough of the Bostilk stuff for the keels for now. Dunno if Ill put it on the hull.