Do you regret having a dark-colored hull?

Do any of you regret having a dark-colored hull?* Don't white-hulled boat owners believe a dark hull creates excessive interior heat and is hard to maintain?

-- Edited by markpierce on Tuesday 28th of September 2010 02:07:10 AM

We are no longer live aboards , a 4 month cruise is not a live aboard situation.

So the heat generated by a dark hull tied in a slip is not a concern.

On the hook , no problem with the hull tho the black in parts deck does require boat shoes , but the black is workboat no skid TOTALLY aggressive , so shoes are std. anyway.

Dark blue works for us , but a Yachtie finish will never be in the cards for a work boat.

I think that a dark hull really enhances the boat's look. Yes, they are harder to maintain but if you have a de-ionized water tank at your slip water supply, it's so easy to rinse the boat off without having all the water spots. No drying needed. It's kinda like using Jet Dry in your dishwasher for spotless dishes. Inside heat has never been a problem in San Diego but I suppose in hot climates it could be.

Note: De-ionize tank to the right of the bow





-- Edited by SeaHorse II on Tuesday 28th of September 2010 09:32:56 AM

I'd say it depnds on where you live maybe?* In Mexico you can talk to any one who has a dark-colored hull and they will tell you how hot it is.** Is that bad in the PNW?*

Larry/Lena
Hobo KK42
La, Paz, BCS, MX****

Get a grip FF. Your boat is a YACHT

Our first boat - a 27' sailboat - had a dark green hull and we loved the appearance. All subsequent boats have had white hulls (not by choice) and I've never looked at them from the dock or dinghy with the same sense of beauty.
Because we cruise the BC coast there was never an issue with heat.


The only problem we had was with the gelcoat; dark gelcoats tend to oxidize more rapidly that light colours, or at least they used to. In fact our new boat (back in 1978) began to show signs of chalkiness after a year, and this was in sun challenged Vancouver BC. That wouldn't be a problem with your boat of course.

I like the look of a dark hull accented by a bright colored bottom paint (only problem with that is you either have to put your dive gear on or actually run the boat to keep it looking clean in the summer!)....Our superstructure is white, Ours does not get to hot in North Carolina....also because its an aluminum hull and the paint was rolled on, it does not show water spots, is easy to repair a scratch, and does not show the diesel soot or yellow water stains...someday I would like a boat yard "yacht quality" paint job, but I have way to many things to the boat as well as my retirment fund to worry about that now. In summary, I will always have a dark colored hull for looks and ease of maintenance. That being said, I would only have a dark colored gel-coat hull if I could pay someone to wax it once a month in our area....

Had a dark red gelcoat sailboat. No heat problems (Duh - Vancouver location). Had chalking of hte Gelcoat in a few years, painted it the same colour and no more chalking problems.

On my former boat I had the hull painted dark green. It looked great but it showed every water spot and salt crystal. When I had some warranty work done on the paint work I had them repaint her in Fighting Lady yellow. Looked less yachty and ship like but she looked a lot more fun and playful. No water spots or salt.

-- Edited by Daddyo on Tuesday 28th of September 2010 10:05:21 PM

Our fist yacht was white superstructure and red hull. Always looked a treat. The original red gelcoat did not last as well, but the red 2 pack re-paint lasted very well. When we got Lotus 2-packed on the hull a couple of weeks ago, I floated suggestions past the 2iC like Nordhavn grey, red, dark green, navy blue, but she steadfastly stuck to her preference for the original white, so Snow-white she remains. But she does look terrific. However, a sometimes wonder, as a colour does look neat. I don't really think the dark colour adds much to the interior heat. Most of the heat gets in from outside via open apertures, windows etc - just like cars. I've has white cars and dark cars and Queensland is hot - can't say the interior ever seemed any different. I'm not talking about holding the hand directly on the paintwork, mind.

Peter B wrote:" but the red 2 pack re-paint lasted very well."

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That appears to be the solution on colored hulls.....Mine has lasted 5 years so far.

*

So what part of the world is the boat going to be in?


*
I would not have a dark color or even a high gloss white on a boat that is not faired to perfection as the dark colors and/or high gloss show up the flaws.* Also a dark color is harder to repair/match then light colors.* Our hull is not faired that well, so I painted it a semi gloss white, which does not show the imperfections and easy to repair/match.* Why do you think ladies use a flat light foundation as it hides their imperfection and make their complexion look flawless? **Talk to your SO/wife as she can probable give you some tips. *


*
*If in a sunny/warm area then lighter the color but if cloudy/cool area then darker the color.* We have dark sealed teak decks that absorb heat even on cloudy days, and the roof is painted grey to also absorb the sun rays.* Even in the winter on sunny days the dark colors keeps the boat warm to the ;point we have to open windows/doors.* If we moved down south I would change the color to a light color. Also talk to your SO/wife as to color and shades as most tend to change their color to darker in the winter and lighter in the summer.*

"Get a grip FF. Your boat is a YACHT"

Perhaps because we use it as one, it is a yacht.

But we do carry commercial papers "Coasting Trade" and expect that when we decide to part with her , she will go back in commercial service.

Most yachtie marine motorists would not appreciate a 50 ft boat , built just for TWO, no matter how pleasantly/effortlessly she cruises.

No acre of varnished forest below (paint) ,

Shower curtain instead of showering cabinet or room,

KISS to the N'th degree ,so no bragging rights.

A second hyd pump on the 6-71's PTO mounting pad , and a bit of hose and lobstering would only be a days work.

My Albin that I had painted green then yellow.

SeaHorse II wrote:

I think that a dark hull really enhances the boat's look.

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Yep, it is hard to look at this picture and say that a dark hull doesn't enhance the look.* To me the classic lines, dark hull, and teak trim make it.* Great looking craft.


*

A story (urban myth?) that we were told back in the day of our dark hull was that we would never catch any salmon with a dark hull. The salmon think it's a killer whale and stay well away.

On our offshore 90/90 sailboat we use almost white bottom paint , the theory is fewer whale strikes.

FF wrote:

But we do carry commercial papers

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Geesh ... that is a pretty loose grip FF.

You could just as easily have checked the block that said "tank ship" or "offshore supply vessel" and it would still be a small recreational boat.

*

FF wrote:

On our offshore 90/90 sailboat we use almost white bottom paint , the theory is fewer whale strikes.

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So you'll still have some whale strikes with a white bottom, just not as many....?

*

marin wrote:so you'll still have some whale strikes with a white bottom, just not as many....?

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lol

*

So far no whale strikes , even delivering red bottomed boats to Bermuda , to avoid the sales taxes.

One big advantage so far is the ability not to be bothered by the Hooligan Navy.

With a 28ft waterline our 90/90 is only 700 -800 lbs per inch of immersion.

Water , fuel and beer can easily cause a 4 inch change in the waterline when heading out..

The puddle jumper kids used to be told to stop and harass every cruising boat with a "wide waterline" , Zero Tolerance.

A Thin ( 2 inch) blue water line over a red very wide waterline , over the white looks fine when heeled.

Traveling upright in coastal waters the red looks like the bottom paint and the very thin blue does nor alert the children to SNATCH UP the automatic weapons, and storm aboard..

It's a little different here in Miami. *Our old Bayliner 24 Express Cruiser averaged about 9 degrees hotter in the summer with the Navy hull than it did the white. In the afternoon when the sun was hitting it broadside, it was unbearable. *I'm sure a more insulated boat would fare better. * Now, we just went back to all white on our Krogen for the same reason. *The painter showed me that the wide navy stripe on the boat was actually over 160 degrees while the white was just over 90. *I love a colored hull, and if I were in the PNY I'd have one for sure, but here, even with the good paints, it'll cost you in A/C , appearance and paint life.

It has been decided.* My trawler's exterior colors will be:

Outer hull -- jade mist green (a very, very dark green)
Waterline stripe -- federal yellow, 8 inches wide/tall
Superstructure and deck, unless otherwise noted -- egg shell white
Pilothouse roof top*and edge -- federal yellow
Forward cabin roof -- san mateo wheat
Boat name and home port (on stern) -- federal yellow

Thanks for your input!

Jade mist green: