Paint it blue

[Victorianna]

I'm finally getting round to repainting the topsides of my boat (assuming that at some stage the rain relents and we get some dryish weather). It's not going to be hugely professional - will be doing outside and with roller/brush but anything is better than the current scuffed and scratched situation.
I'm proposing to use international toplac and the associated primer - 1 pack rather than 2 for ease and because I'm not 100% what's on there already.

The question I have for the collective wisdom is... can I go for a dark colour? Ideally I'd like to go navy rather than white but I've heard stories about dark colours absorbing too much heat and doing funny things to hulls... Boat is cold moulded cedar strip epoxy sheathed in glass. So not a "wooden" boat as such, more a thick grp/wood core hull but still, wondering if I'm better off with white. Boat lives on a mooring on east coast rivers.

 

[steve yates]

I don’t think you have to worry about the heat on the east coast
Now if you were spending time in the med or carribean you might want to rethink it, but for the UK I would paint it any colour that takes your fancy.

 

[Minerva]

I’m a fan of Dark blue hulls - and if you’re painting you needn’t worry about it fading; you’ll repaint before that’s an issue.

Go for it!

Otherwise I’ve heard very good things about SML Paints so I’d be having a look at their offerings before going Toplac (but that’s still a decent option).

 

[Otter]

I don’t think you have to worry about the heat on the east coast
Now if you were spending time in the med or carribean you might want to rethink it, but for the UK I would paint it any colour that takes your fancy.

I know that should be true but we painted our blue CW35 to white and it was so much nicer in the cabins in the summer. Amazing how much heat a dark blue hull absorbs.

 

[Victorianna]

Ok that's reassuring, thanks. Good point about it getting hot in cabin in the summer, though we don't overnight that much (26ft and 2 small kids).

I did look at SML as a better range of colours so might have another look...

 

[KevinV]

I love a dark blue hull, but it's worth considering that they show paint imperfections, damage and salt much more than lighter colours or white

 

[mrming]

Ok that's reassuring, thanks. Good point about it getting hot in cabin in the summer, though we don't overnight that much (26ft and 2 small kids).

I did look at SML as a better range of colours so might have another look...

Toplac is quite soft in my experience. I haven’t tried other single packs but I would look for a tougher one if I was painting topsides.

 

[Tranona]

Toplac 105 blue is good I used it on my Cascover sheathed wooden boat for years. Paint was 9 years old when this photo was taken. Small touch ups suggested no fading.

 

[Victorianna]

Thanks. All very helpful. I think I've heard re painting that the hull is much like women or cleaning - start at the top and work down. So topsides then boot top then antifoul? Has anyone used a vinyl tape for boot top instead of paint? Feels like it might be scrub able/easily changeable each season and easier than buying another tin of (probably white) boot top to go between the blue hull and blue antifoul (that I've already bought).

 

[Dellquay13]

I did look at SML as a better range of colours so might have another look...

I have only used single pack paint once, from SML. I found it quite soft and very slow to harden.
4 weeks later and the hoist slings still smudged it around.
Other brands might be the same though.

 

[Cerebus]

Dark colours can show imperfections more than white can.

I sprayed my first blue cruiser white and it looked like a professional job.

If you go for blue, with advice you will have what you want however and dark blue will look better than boring old white I think. I used white because I was new to painting and conservative.

 

[stuartwineberg]

I recommend flag blue, it’s a common shade and you can get cans of touch up paint for scratches, which will happen!

 

[Victorianna]

Yes the question now is which paint and which blue. So far 1 positive and 1 negative (too soft) vote for both international and SML. SML seem to be able to mix lots of different colours but I do wonder whether that would be a pain when it comes to touching up.

 

[Cerebus]

Yes the question now is which paint and which blue. So far 1 positive and 1 negative (too soft) vote for both international and SML. SML seem to be able to mix lots of different colours but I do wonder whether that would be a pain when it comes to touching up.

Jo

Yes the question now is which paint and which blue. So far 1 positive and 1 negative (too soft) vote for both international and SML. SML seem to be able to mix lots of different colours but I do wonder whether that would be a pain when it comes to touching up.

jotun worked for me. Have rolled and tipped and sprayed. But only in white.

 

[SimonX]

Isn't there a song about that?
We have been looking at a Broom 42 and one of the - ves is that the hull is blue ( blooming requiring re-polishing)
But today our partners have looked at two Linssens which are "boring" cream and beige
No pleasing some people