Paint color choice

[BlazinKuztumz]

Is there anything that keeps people from painting the bottom of the hull a darker color (royal blue, black)? I've seen a lot of people doing repaints and they use the darker colors towards the top of the sides of the hull, but most seem to paint the hull white, or cream, or some light color. Is there an advantage to this, other than the fact that if you happen to hit something, or come up on the beach, that it would show more scratches and all in a darker color?

Also, inside deck colors, white, or a darker color? What are your choices for coloring? I'll be replacing the deck inside of mine coming up, and want to do some sort of grip paint, but not sure if I should go with a white, or more of a grey color, etc?

Thanks for any info, facts, opinions, etc.

Scott

 

[cbavier]

Re: Paint color choice

Is there anything that keeps people from painting the bottom of the hull a darker color (royal blue, black)? I've seen a lot of people doing repaints and they use the darker colors towards the top of the sides of the hull, but most seem to paint the hull white, or cream, or some light color. Is there an advantage to this, other than the fact that if you happen to hit something, or come up on the beach, that it would show more scratches and all in a darker color?

Also, inside deck colors, white, or a darker color? What are your choices for coloring? I'll be replacing the deck inside of mine coming up, and want to do some sort of grip paint, but not sure if I should go with a white, or more of a grey color, etc?

Thanks for any info, facts, opinions, etc.

Scott

Hulls are usually done light because of the maintenace. Waxing, Scrapes,waterspots, Oxidation, sun fade. The smarter more experienced boaters/people prefer no color only white or cream. I would suggest the white or cream and if you want color just paint a thin stripe. Don't use decals because if the sun deteriates the decal and you remove it you will have a shadow you cannot get rid of. The same is true where the registration numbers are. That is why the numbers never change for the life of the boat unless it is sold across state lines. Then the new buyer just has to live with the shadow of the old numbers or letters. "Chuck's Fiberglass & Color restore" Whatever you do WAX, WAX,WAX! The more a boat is waxed the easier it is to wax. Sun is murder on fibergalss and boats that sit on boat lifts get double wammied because of sun on the sides and rays bouncing off the water. Even under a covered boat lift. This is true on Fibergalss. I don't know about Aluminum but I'm sure much other than oxidation applies to aluminum also.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Paint color choice

dark colors absorb heat, the surfaces get hot. best way to keep you girlfriend off you boat is black seats.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Paint color choice

Scott, Chuck is correct about the light colors not showing the defects as much as darker colors. However, I think boats have white hulls because it is tradition as well. If you think about it, boats come in a small number of colors. Most are shades of blue or white or blue/white. We have some black hulls, some grey, some red, some teal, a lot of which have white bottoms. Less common is yellow and green. Occasionally we see a purple one, or an orange one. I think people tend to see certain colors as "Boaty", or not. I like blue, teal and white boats.

If you do decide on a dark color for the bottom, make sure to do a good prep job, or all the defects will be noticable, at least by yourself.

 

[BlazinKuztumz]

Re: Paint color choice

Thanks guys. Yeah I'm thinking of following the pattern that's on the boat now, but go a bit darker on the blue that's on there. The inside I was thinking that a grey would be good, because it's not dark so hopefully it wouldn't absorb heat, but also isn't going to be as blinding as a white would when on the water? Any thoughts?

 

[65Mech]

Re: Paint color choice

im going with a baby blue hull(original color) and since my boat is a skiff and inside has the unfinished look to it, im putting down a rhino liner type coating that comes in a 1 gallon. 1 gal baby blue mixed with 1 gal white for a really light blue. they make a smooth texture that i did another boat with a couple of years ago and was awsome. nice and grippy, doesnt kill bare feet, didnt get very hot, easy clean-up, and durable. im not at home right now so i cannot pull up a website, but if you want it ill post it.

 

[65Mech]

Re: Paint color choice

here is the site.

http://www.nonslipcoating.com/

 

[BlazinKuztumz]

Re: Paint color choice

Thanks. Yeah that's exactly what I was thinking about doing. I had thought about the old trick of adding clean sand to the paint right after painting, but thought that a bedliner/liner material would be good for a lot of different reasons. Mine is the unfinished (not smooth) type of finish as well.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: Paint color choice

Thanks guys. Yeah I'm thinking of following the pattern that's on the boat now, but go a bit darker on the blue that's on there. The inside I was thinking that a grey would be good, because it's not dark so hopefully it wouldn't absorb heat, but also isn't going to be as blinding as a white would when on the water? Any thoughts?

Well that is what I am going with for my boat. I am painting the outside an almond, which is really an off white, and the upper portion is getting a smoke gray. The whole interior of the boat will be a smoke gray. I hope it won't be too hot in the sun. I live in Tx, and the sun can scorch ya to death. White blinds me so there is no way I could have white in a boat with the sun beading down on me. I almost chose and antique white instead of the almond, but the almond looked just a tiny bit better to me when you put it up next to the gray. The smoke gray is darker than my silver truck. But it should compliment the truck, I hope. I will follow up and use red lettering, as my trailer is bright red. I am thinking this color scheme will do good with just about any truck I may have in the future. I hope to paint this once, wax it well, and hope I don't have to repaint for a very long time. Good luck to you on whatever you choose. I think gray will be fine for ya, if that is the direction you want to go. You have asked some good questions, and I found them quite interesting. I look forward to seeing your paint job.