4 Signs Your Boat Needs Repainting!

To keep a boat in good order the hull will need checking every year. Painting the hull with antifoul paint is not just a matter of keeping the vessel looking smart; it also protects the boat from the ravages of time and tide. Antifouling products contain biocides and sometimes copper to prevent the build-up of marine organisms on the hull. Marine particles can affect both the performance of the hull and the boat’s overall fuel efficiency. Over the years, repainted layers will build-up to the point where the boat will need stripping back to the bare hull. In any event, the hull needs checking annually.

Common Marine Paint Defects

Watch out for these following tell-tale signs that your boat either needs repainting or even stripping right back to the wood surface: 1. Patches of paint flaking off, leaving ragged edges 2. Craters appearing in the paintwork. (The hull surface should be smooth.) 3. Blisters appearing on the paint surface 4. Damage to the hull Blistering is evidence that some water is getting in under the barrier coat. Small blisters can be dealt with in isolation. For more severe or extensive blistering, get a water meter to check the levels of moisture in the hull. Where blisters are large in size and osmosis is suspected, call in an expert.

How Often to Repaint your Boat

How often a boat hull needs repainting will vary. It depends on the amount of time the boat spends in the water, whether the water is salt or fresh, and how much use the boat gets. The rule of thumb is that it will need repainting every year with regular use. If it is stored in dry dock for a portion of the year, repainting may only be needed every other year. This is not a hard and fast rule as there are a wide range of variables. Bear in mind that the type of paint applied to the boat hull also plays a major factor in durability.

Surface Preparation & Paint Selection

Having inspected the hull, if it needs repainting, ensure the hull surface is prepared thoroughly. There are several methods for sanding down or removing old layers of paint if stripping the hull right back. Wear a protective mask and glasses if dry sanding or using stripping products and equipment. Choose the correct marine paint with care. Different types of moorings and patterns of boat use will need the correct type of anti-fouling paint. There are three main types of marine paint: eroding, copper-based, and hard film.

High-Quality Marine Paints

For expert advice on the right paint product for your boat, please get in touch. We manufacture our own range of durable, non-toxic marine paints, which you can purchase directly from our online store.  Image source: Unsplash