BW Orange Paint?

[cheshire~rose]

 

We are just getting another protective coat of paint in Python's hold (payng special attention to the base plate and behind her knees) and although I have always been aware of these colours on an area that was flaking I have been thinking more about it as we have just covered it up with red oxide!

 

 

The jade green was the colour that Python used to be in the 80's - with a pressed aluminium name plate. I have a photo of her in the archives with that frock on.

 

However Dave mentioned to me that the orange was, he believes, a coating that BW used for a period of time in the holds of many of their maintenance boats, possibly a what was then considered modern alternative to red oxide?

 

Can anyone shed any light on this - the orange is over the top of the green so this would have been in the 90's I think?

 

Does anyone have any colour pictures showing an orange hold in a work boat or was this some sort of special underwear that only Python wore?

[Derek R.]

I would think it a pretty common enough colour for plant in general. Makes a change from yellow. Pink seems to be in favour for extra hi-viz nowadays, but men being men . . .

[David Mack]

Red lead paint when newly applied is bright tangerine orange, but fades to a dusty pink if left exposed to the weather. It may well remain orange if covered by other paint.

Since red lead has long been banned, then red oxide is probably more appropriate - or Craftmaster Raddle Red which is rather brown for my taste, but Phil Speight assures me has been colour matched to samples of red oxide from old working boats.

[cheshire~rose]

I can't imagine that the red lead would have been covered up straight away but perhaps it was with the green paint? The bit that is shown exposed here has been that way for a few years and has not faded but perhaps the chemical reaction would not happen so many years down the line?

 

We are very fortunate to be supported by Paintman who has supplied all the external paint products for Python throughout the rebuild, including matching the engine colour so we could repaint the gearbox to match.

 

 

Paintman specialises in paints for classic vehicles, in particular Land Rovers but locally there are a lot of boaters who use their products with a great deal of satisfaction and good results>

 

https://paintman.co.uk/product-category/coach-enamel-paint/

 

Of course the fact that they are so local is really helpful when we run low on something as up here on The Chesterfield we are not well blessed with chandleries!

 

Python's base plate had a top coat of some "Marine Blue" which was lurking in their "waste paint cupboard" so it was probably an order that didn't get collected. In years to come maybe someone will be trying to identify what that shade was

 

 

I have no knowledge of what shade the red oxide whould be but I do know it is lovely thick stuff that covers beautifully. This is very fresh (wet) in this photo:

 

I think we might need to recoat it every 2-3 years to keep it protected down there but we will monitor how it is faring and make a plan

 

 

[BEngo]

5 hours ago, cheshire~rose said:

I can't imagine that the red lead would have been covered up straight away but perhaps it was with the green paint? 

Red lead is a primer  so it should be covered up as soon as it is properly set. Whether BW did that or not is a good question.

N

[roland elsdon]

We have some orange coloured paint like that in our hold, and our boat is again a cut down working boat operated by bwb , into a maintenance boat.

I believe it is red lead. On our hold it’s about 3 layers down.

i suggest you treat it as red lead and don’t sand it.

[Dav and Pen]

Yes its red lead. When we rubbed down  the cabin of Tadworth  after getting her from BW the red lead primer was in great condition. 

We always used Crown red lead paint, not primer, in the hold and cabin roof it was a very satisfyingly red and stood up well to the coal in winter and camping boating in summer.

[Pluto]

1 hour ago, BEngo said:

Red lead is a primer  so it should be covered up as soon as it is properly set. Whether BW did that or not is a good question.

N

I am not a paint expert, but I think suggesting red lead is purely a primer is wrong. It was certainly used as the final finish on the decks on wooden short boats, and I remember uncovering one of the wrecks sunk on the Douglas/Asland for bank protection on which you could still see some red lead. The boats were sunk between 1900 and 1930, which does suggest it was a very effective paint.

[pete harrison]

11 hours ago, cheshire~rose said:

II have no knowledge of what shade the red oxide whould be but I do know it is lovely thick stuff that covers beautifully. This is very fresh (wet) in this photo:

 

I think we might need to recoat it every 2-3 years to keep it protected down there but we will monitor how it is faring and make a plan

My boat is having the full grit blast and epoxy two pack treatment in the hold, not cheap but it will save on all the chipping, scraping and repainting every couple of years 

[roland elsdon]

Did that with Atalanta, superb, but the mess was impressive.

 

[cheshire~rose]

15 hours ago, BEngo said:

Red lead is a primer  so it should be covered up as soon as it is properly set. Whether BW did that or not is a good question.

N

I am aware that red oxide is a primer and, as such, will allow moisture to penetrate, That is why the baseplate is having a protective top coat to seal it. The chine area behind the knees has a basecoat of two pack epoxy - when we blacked the bottom we used up what was left in the tin and on this area is has done a great job. On the base plate where detritus has dropped through the crevises of the deck boards and fallen between the ballast it brought the blacking up - I think sawdust from the fit out was the biggest culprit!

We intend keeping watch on the staying power of the new finish (There is an inspection hatch in the deck boards to allow this) and suspect we may need to repeat every 2 - 3 years but as we get a few more thicknesses of paint on there it will help protect it.

Hauling in willow roots that are thick with mud and bottles and cans

We are less concerned with the sides as there are paint coatings on there dating back 80 years and so a coat of red oxide is just freshening the finish up, I am not too concerned about it's rust prevention qualities.

[cheshire~rose]

10 hours ago, pete harrison said:

My boat is having the full grit blast and epoxy two pack treatment in the hold, not cheap but it will save on all the chipping, scraping and repainting every couple of years 

That sounds ideal!

I think I would probably give the treasurer a heart attack if we requested that in Python's next budget, especially as Python seems to be very well blessed with a ever growing and highly motivated team of happy volunteers these days so if I ask nicely the jobs get done.

 

We also seem to be attracting the next generation too, we have had a couple of youngsters helping this week and one a little older coming for his next helming practice next week.:

 

Jamie aged 11

 

 

Sam aged 10