Boat Blacking

[MrBadger]

Hi! I am interested in blacking my boat myself it is 40foot. Can anyone recommend me some places or brands that would do the job and perhaps how much paint I would need please? Interested in this two pack epoxy too but I find it confusing! 

Added a brand here is this any good? 

Appreciate the advice! Hannah

[Mike Hurley]

That is not boat blacking, you need a bitumen type or epoxy 2 pack paint. I think normal bitumen is about 50 quid for a 5 litre tin. If you go 2 pack you ideally need to grit blast the hull as 2 pack wont stick to bitumen. Do you know what is on there now?

[LadyG]

If you look at

SML Paints

Marine Painrs

There is a blacking kit for narrowboats which indicates the volume needed, roughly.

The boat needs to be out of the water and a high pressure washer as owned by a boatyard is better than a Karcher type designed for car waahing.

Likely it has been blacked with a bitumen coating , this needs to be removed as much as possible using scraper, wire brush and wire cup brushes. Wear hat, gloves, goggles and mask. 

Do as good a job as possible.

If the boat is chocked high it should allow some access for baseplate. 

Some yards have better facilities than others. 

The air temperature needs to be reasonably warm. Read the data sheet.

Bitumen type coatings and Epoxy two pack can be put on with 4" rollers and a few brushes. Three coats better than two. Allow one day per coat. Read data sheet 

Curing before launching takes a few days, less for bitumen than for epoxy.

Bitumen lasts 2-3 years, Epoxy lasts longer if good prep, bitumen is more forgiving of prep, and cheaper 

PS when boat is out its easy to paint the gunwales. a different type of prep and paint. Sand, undercoat, topcoat.

Edited January 9 by LadyG

[MrBadger]

6 hours ago, LadyG said:

If you look at

SML Paints

Marine Painrs

There is a blacking kit for narrowboats which indicates the volume needed, roughly.

The boat needs to be out of the water and a high pressure washer as owned by a boatyard is better than a Karcher type designed for car waahing.

Likely it has been blacked with a bitumen coating , this needs to be removed as much as possible using scraper, wire brush and wire cup brushes. Wear hat, gloves, goggles and mask. 

Do as good a job as possible.

If the boat is chocked high it should allow some access for baseplate. 

Some yards have better facilities than others. 

The air temperature needs to be reasonably warm. Read the data sheet.

Bitumen type coatings and Epoxy two pack can be put on with 4" rollers and a few brushes. Three coats better than two. Allow one day per coat. Read data sheet 

Curing before launching takes a few days, less for bitumen than for epoxy.

Bitumen lasts 2-3 years, Epoxy lasts longer if good prep, bitumen is more forgiving and cheaper 

PS when boat is out its easy to paint the gunwales. a different type of prep and paint. Sand, undercoat, topcoat.

Thank you LadyG! Would the following do the job? If so, what process should I follow with this the same as you said or different? https://www.smlmarinepaints.co.uk/products/Epoxykit50

[Covfefe]

That would do the job, also Hempel Hempadur is another two pack which requires minimal surface prep, although the better the prep the better the long term result.

[LadyG]

24 minutes ago, MrBadger said:

Thank you LadyG! Would the following do the job? If so, what process should I follow with this the same as you said or different? https://www.smlmarinepaints.co.uk/products/Epoxykit50

I think it is something i would try in your situation, you should be able to get the boat prepped, put a layer on the worst bits, then two coats all over.

Id avoid thinner if its going on OK,  may be temp dependent. You may have a few bare bits which need touched up just before it goes in the water.

Painting is much better if it is a decent day, not cold and damp. 

Make sure it is well mixed and aim to get it on in about an hour.  You need to make two batches, one for each coat, use scales to be sure of exact proportions.

Read the data sheet and note ambient temp, make sure paint is not in cold storage

 

 

Edited January 9 by LadyG

[MrBadger]

I don't think I am going to escape the cold for a long time! 

[Sean Austin]

How much would you expect to pay a boatyard to do the work for a 40 ft boat? Just the sides, not the baseplate.

[LadyG]

2 hours ago, Sean Austin said:

How much would you expect to pay a boatyard to do the work for a 40 ft boat? Just the sides, not the baseplate.

Just a guess,  liftout chock, lift in might be £650, labour £50"ph, wash £50, prep £50-£150, paint £100-£150, new anodes £50-£75. £1000, vat will be charged at 20%

Update:   Matty reckons anodes will cost a lot more, there are four, and may not always be needed, but expect to do them.

 

Edited Friday at 08:01 by LadyG

[matty40s]

I can hardly see a boatyard fitting anodes at a loss....

 

Boatyards usually charge by the foot, but most will have a minimum boat length ( ie, anything less than 50 feet will be charged for 50 feet).

[Mike Tee]

Just google a few boatyards (Debdale for example) to get an accurate estimate.

[LadyG]

4 hours ago, Mike Tee said:

Just google a few boatyards (Debdale for example) to get an accurate estimate.

Debdale is a different style of treatment They will grit blasted to a bare metal standard, then prime the metal then apply the epoxy. Expect to pay a lot more, expect it to last many years. Could be worthwhile with a newish boat in good condition which you expect to keep for ten years. 

Edited Friday at 12:34 by LadyG

[matty40s]

Debdale offer a full range of blacking services, normal blacking to sides only at £15 a foot and prices rise from there.

The treatment LadyG refers to above is a zinc coating ovet gritblasted hull, with 2 pack over.

This has generally been used on older and even historic boats with corrosion issues after they have had pit welding done, to prolong the life of the hull.

Some newer boats are also done, but this is the minority.

[Sean Austin]

4 hours ago, LadyG said:

Just a guess,  liftout chock, lift in might be £650, labour £50"ph, wash £50, prep £50-£150, paint £100-£150, new anodes £50-£75. £1000, vat will be charged at 20%

Update:   Matty reckons anodes will cost a lot more, there are four, and may not always be needed, but expect to do them.

 

Thank you. There is other work that could be done at the same time, so I will Bung.On.Another.Thousand to the budget. Fortunately the work is not urgent.

[Covfefe]

31 minutes ago, Sean Austin said:

Thank you. There is other work that could be done at the same time, so I will Bung.On.Another.Thousand to the budget. Fortunately the work is not urgent.

Boat ownership is to money, what a bucket with a hole in is to water. But at least you get to enjoy spending it.

[ditchcrawler]

Here is an actual price Boat blacking — Braunston Boats Ltd

 

This one is a bit out of date Servicing & Repairs - Braunston Marina

Edited Friday at 13:37 by ditchcrawler

[cuthound]

And here is another one.

 

https://www.norton-canes.co.uk/our-services/dry-dock/

[Sean Austin]

6 hours ago, Covfefe said:

Boat ownership is to money, what a bucket with a hole in is to water. But at least you get to enjoy spending it.

Well I enjoy the boat ownership, don't like spending money though.

[CV32]

On 10/01/2025 at 14:35, ditchcrawler said:

Boat blacking — Braunston Boats Ltd

I have to recommend Braunston Boats - they blacked our boat at the end of summer 2024. Nice job, friendly folk to deal with.