Boat Painting Challenges - Yacht Services, Nanaimo Boat Yard

Boat Painting Challenges….

It’s a messy, time consuming job which can easily can go wrong if the paint products are applied incorrectly or if the wrong products are used. Some of the most common problems which come up are listed below:

Poor Quality Gel Coats Painted Badly

Owners of boats with gel coats will notice after a few years the surface may well begin to oxidise and chalk.  You can wax and polish your boat, but a few months later it will probably turn dull again. This is when people turn to painting. If the boat is painted well the results will be good and depending on the weather may last for many years.

If you’re tempted to do it yourself or use casual labour, think again. Use a yard where their reputation is sacrosanct and you will be able to see examples of their work.  A covered paint shed is essential for achieving a good result.

Dark colors have become popular, but be wary. Dark colors absorb much more heat than light colors so for dark painted areas it means the plastic will continue to cure.  This can result in shrinkage and serious damage to to the surface. 

Like all types of painting, preparation is key:

• Remove as much of the boat hardware as possible – window frames, cleats etc. Paint between the boat and the hardware will eventually crack and peel away.Avoid painting window frames and any stainless steel screws as eventually the paint will simply flake off.
• Remove all teak. Wood holds moisture so if you paint it eventually the paint will simply peel off.
• Remove all historical waxes that may have been absorbed by a porous gel coat. This is normally done by dewaxing and sanding.
• Fill all holes and scratches.
• Apply special primer coats to make the surface easier to adhere to.

At Nanaimo Boatyard this is a common problem people seek for us to resolve.

Blistered Paint

Finish Area is Showing Brushmarks

Paint Finish Appears Bumpy

Paint is Peeling Off

Paint Appears Matt (rather than gloss).

Come and talk to us about your painting requirements.

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