Do You Have to Use a Special Type of Paint on a Boat?
Do you know how the paint on the outside of your house can crack up and start to fall off after a long and relentless season of monsoon rains? That happens because the type of paint used on homes isn’t meant to take such a beating from gushing water. Consistent punishment in wet conditions can damage it, and after long enough, the pain sustains enough damage to develop cracks and flake off the surface.
Boats, on the other hand, belong in the water. Wet conditions are their natural habitat, so of course, you will need a special type of paint that doesn’t mind being in water throughout its lifetime. Not just that, you even have to make a distinction in paint type depending on the material, finish and parts of your boat, which is what this article is all about!
FIVE TYPES OF BOAT PAINT
Topside boat paint
Did you know that you’re supposed to use different types of paint on different parts of the boat? Well, it makes sense since some of them are supposed to be submerged in the water while others barely even get wet. Those “dry” parts include the boat’s interior, hull, deck, and upper half of the sides — basically everything that stays above the waterline. That’s exactly what topside boat paint is for, as the name suggests.
Usually, these are one or two-part polyurethane combined with alkyd marine enamel. Since consistent exposure to the sun puts these parts at risk of UV (ultraviolet) damage, this solid topside boat paint coating protects the vessel in the long run.
Aluminum boat paint
From restoration, refurbishment, and decoration, to exciting applications like camouflage, aluminum paint has many potential uses as a special type of boat paint. One of its key benefits is that it doesn’t need a primer to be applied as it sticks directly to the boat’s surface. You can use it both over and under the waterline!
Fiberglass paint
Fiberglass paint is made for, you guessed it, fiberglass boats. It’s made out of ingredients like restoration solutions, resins, and Gelcoat. The last one helps repair or touch up the damaged or scratched-up patches on the boat’s finishing, though can be tough to apply and even tougher when storing due to its relatively short shelf life. Safe to say, you shouldn’t throw away the user manual that comes with this boat paint type.
Wood boat paint
If you’re a fan of those oil-based finishes that have been a traditional classic for years, then you’ll need some wood boat paint on your vessel. Its downsides include tendencies to swell and flex. It’s even worse along the seams, which means even the most expensive finishes won’t last very long. Though, you can use teak to prevent or slow down the fading of your boat’s finish. Skip that step and it’ll surely fade over time, leading to bigger problems like mildew, rotting, and discoloration, requiring you to clean up or treat the wood all over again.
Bottom boat paint
This type goes on parts of the boat that are under the waterline, which is why it has the strongest “anti-fouling” properties out of the other types mentioned on this list. It’s made to repel aquatic organisms like barnacles and weeds that get attached to the wet part of wooden boats and chip away, causing slow but significant damage to it over time.