The Ultimate Guide to Yacht Paint

Keep your boat on the water longer with yacht paint

“Yacht paint” (or boat paint) is the umbrella term for all the coatings used as protection and decoration on all parts of a yacht. Above and below the waterline there are a wide variety of coatings working hard to keep your yacht looking and performing its best. These coatings include primers, undercoats, topcoats, varnishes, fouling control, coatings for propellers, topside paints, bottom paints… with so many options, it is easy to feel all at sea. Whether you have a dinghy, canoe, row boat, motorboat, speedboat or yacht, you need to look after your vessel to make sure you get as many good years as possible on the water. A vital part of boat care is the choice and application of boat paint.

In this guide we will take you through the best boat paint systems for GRP/FRP, aluminum, steel, and wood, and provide you with the tips and tricks to ensure a job well done.We also look at some of the top yacht paint manufacturers and products available in the US.

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What the right yacht paint does for your boat

There are as many yacht paints as there are surfaces on your boat, and the marine coating industry is vast. To make it simpler we have broken them down into three categories: above the waterline, below the waterline, and wood care. Ultimately you want your boat to look good, but paint is also essential to:

• Protect aluminum and steel against corrosion – a strong risk where metal and water come together
• Protect fiberglass against osmosis – the blistering and weakening caused by water absorption
• Protect wood from weathering and rot – only maintained woodwork will withstand the elements, sun, and water exposure
• Protect decks against wear and damage – a yacht deck is hard working and needs hard-working protection
• Protect the underwater hull from biofouling – prevent everything from slime to barnacles from getting a hold

Comparing single pack and two pack boat paints

A boat paint system is designed with the substrate material, environment, and use conditions in mind. For most applications and coating layers, coating companies will provide a single pack/component and two pack/component option. These options vary not just in difficulty but also in coating strengths. Below is a chart comparing some of the properties of one and two component boat paint systems.

Yacht paint for above the waterline – topside paints

Yacht paint that is meant for all surfaces above the waterline is known as topside paint. These coatings are subject to temperature fluctuation, everything the weather can throw at them –from rain and hail to burning sunshine–  and all the perils of extended periods on the water.

A yacht paint system is usually comprised of a number of paint layers – a primer for adhesion, an undercoat to help create a smooth surface, and a topcoat to provide the final layer of protection and decoration. You may not need the full three layer system, and for most applications there are one and two component available for each layer. The topside yacht paints are:

1. Primers and undercoats – These protect the boat’s substrate, combat problems like osmosis and corrosion, provide the perfect surface for and enhance the final finish.
2. Topcoats – The coat that you see. Designed to protect against the elements and enhance the appearance of your yacht.
3. Fillers – Used to streamline a surface and fill in blemishes and fairing the surface of a boat. Improves hull performance.
4. Deck coating – Coating designed for durability and work. They are mostly matte, to reduce reflections, and can be non slip for safety.
5. Paint for bilges and lockers – Protects against moisture penetration while also resisting oil and fuel spills. Easy to clean and durable.

Award winning innovation – Awlgrip Quick Build

IBEX, the largest marine industry trade event in North America, yearly provides awards to industry members that reward ingenuity and excellence in the field. Called the ‘Innovation Awards’, they are one of the industry’s most prestigious honors. At IBEX 2018, the Innovation Award for boat care and maintenance went to Awlgrip (from AkzoNobel) and their new Quick Build Sealer and Quick Build Surfacer.

Awlgrip Quick Build is a versatile, quick-drying multi-color priming system made up of a surfacer and a sealer. Six color bases can be used with Quick Build Sealer or Surfacer converter and activator, giving the customer the choice between a quick non-sanded sealer system or a sanded surfacing system. It saves time and money throughout the painting process for small to large fiberglass and aluminum boat manufacturers and component suppliers, boatyards, and professional applicators.

Below is a look at some of the top topside coating products available in the US.

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Yacht paint for below the waterline – bottom paint/fouling control

Fouling control coatings, or bottom paints more generally, are those applied below the waterline to protect the hull, keel, and propeller from both the dangers of osmosis and corrosion and from the build up of organisms, known as fouling. Antifouling works by releasing biocides to kill off or deter organisms, or by making the surface too smooth to adhere to as with foul release coatings.

Fouling, whether slime or larger organisms, causes drag, damages the durability of the boat and increases the need for maintenance. These coatings, in preventing the buildup, keep the hull and propeller clear and smooth, reduce fuel consumption, and prevent the transfer of non-native species to foreign waters. There are a variety of yacht coating types used for below the waterline protection. These include:

1. Hard antifouling – A coating system where the biocides are slowly leached from a hard and durable resin at a slowly decreasing rate of efficacy.
2. Eroding antifouling – This category also includes self-polishing or ablative antifouling. This system is designed to wear away at a controlled rate, continually exposing a surface of fresh biocide. This may be through a reaction with saltwater, or through erosion.
3. Fouling release – The biocide-free alternative to antifouling which uses physical properties like extreme smoothness to prevent the adherence of organisms and slime.
4. Propeller coating – The propeller is an area which experiences excessive wear and tear, so antifouling and propeller coatings need to be extremely high endurance.

The factors that affect the choice of bottom paint are the yacht type, the sailing pattern and speed, the geographic location (warm or cool waters, particularly) and the type of mooring, and the environmental legislation of the region.

Keep everything shipshape with yacht varnish and wood care

Time and the elements will, over time, drain your woodwork of its gleam and color. Left uncared for, wood is susceptible to mold, fungi, sealife, and rot, and if you aren’t careful there may not be much left to restore. With the right yacht coating, wood can be protected and enhanced. Whether your craft has oak, mahogany, marine ply, pine, teak, cedar or any other wood, coating is needed to keep it at its best.

Wood varnish for yachts is particularly tough, UV resistant, durable, and available in a variety of chemistries, though most of these are phenolic, alkyd or polyurethane. When it comes to varnishing brightwork, the best way to keep it sparkling is with a spar varnish.

Are you looking for the best yacht paint supplier? Get in touch! Our experts are here to answer all your yacht paint questions and connect you with the right coating and company for the job. Just use the “Request a Quote” button beneath the article and use our free quotation service to get underway.