Recommendations for re-painting narrow boat

[Alan Wheeler]

We bought our 60' narrow boat back in 2017 and we want to make enquiries for a specialist to re-paint the boat that is moored on the GU at Napton; which we are virgins at the process, cost and options.

 

Can anyone recommend a recently used boatyard/painter in the area and a budget cost, plus any advise to consider, e.g. paint primer, coats, quality, etc.

[Tonka]

Hire a wetdock at Culcutt and DIY.

[Alan Wheeler]

Thanks. We considered that DIY, but we don't have the time/weekends or expertise to embark on sanding and painting the boat. So our concern is the wet dock hire cost and quality will be compromised. Therefore some costs from reputable specialists would help to evaluate the cost v time v quality.

[Tonka]

@matty40s at Stowe Hill may be able to help

 

Took the wife and I 5 weeks to do our 62ft narrowboat last time at Calcutt 

Edited February 22, 2025 by Tonka
Extra info

[cheesegas]

Painted half the roof of my 45' boat last summer, I highly recommend paying someone else to do it. Prep takes ages, and I wasn't aiming for a flawless polished finished, just a rollered functional finish. Two days to strip/prep/clean, a day to prime it and then two days to topcoat.

 

And make sure your painters had a dry dock, cracking open a tin of paint in mid July is a guaranteed way to ensure relentless rain!

[MtB]

Had one of mine done at Oxfordshire Narrowboats, Lower Heyford, not far from you. Bare metal repaint. Took them about a month and did a first class job. 

 

Nosebleed cost and I got what I paid for. 

[Adam]

1 hour ago, MtB said:

Had one of mine done at Oxfordshire Narrowboats, Lower Heyford, not far from you. Bare metal repaint. Took them about a month and did a first class job. 

 

Nosebleed cost and I got what I paid for. 

Out of interest if you don't mind, how much and how many moons ago?

[BEngo]

Thirteen  years ago we had our 60ft oboat painted by Chris of Oxon Boat Painting at Brinklow.  It took about 6 weeks.  Chris's work is holding up very well but it will need re-doing in two or three years.

 

A recent good review or customer feedback is, to me, less important than evidence of long term durability.  9 It is easy to get a shiny finish that lasts for maybe thred to five years.  Getting something that really lasts is harder. Ours has.  Oxon B P are still in business, and I would go back there.

N

 

 

[Alan de Enfield]

2 hours ago, MtB said:

 

 

Nosebleed cost and I got what I paid for. 

 

A nosebleed ?

[MtB]

1 minute ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

A nosebleed ?

 

My bank got a nosebleed...

 

 

[Tonka]

What happened about the Hillmorton Painters who used to spray paint the boats. I heard they were having problems and customers of theirs were not happy and if you look at some of their boats it appeared that the lacquer coat was peeling off

[LEO]

12 hours ago, BEngo said:

Thirteen  years ago we had our 60ft oboat painted by Chris of Oxon Boat Painting at Brinklow.  It took about 6 weeks.  Chris's work is holding up very well but it will need re-doing in two or three years.

 

A recent good review or customer feedback is, to me, less important than evidence of long term durability.  9 It is easy to get a shiny finish that lasts for maybe thred to five years.  Getting something that really lasts is harder. Ours has.  Oxon B P are still in business, and I would go back there.

N

 

 

Totally agree with comments, I had a paint job by them in 2011, still looked good when I sold it last year.

[Mike Tee]

I've never had any work done by them (just moor there), but Napton marina do painting - I assume they get lots of practise with the hire boats!

[Tonka]

1 hour ago, LEO said:

Totally agree with comments, I had a paint job by them in 2011, still looked good when I sold it last year.

We had ours done by them Winter 2010 but was quite faded after 5 years (Manchester Red) So we repainted it ourselves

 

Who now does the painting at Warwick Fly boats ?

Edited February 23, 2025 by Tonka

[alan_fincher]

Another possible person to talk to, (not yet I think mentioned), is Colin Dundas, who is based in the wet dock at High House Wharf, Nether Heyford.

 

All done by brush, I think - no rollering I'm aware of.

[Peanut]

A boy at schools dad, worked as a painter, for Park Ward Mulliner the coachbuilders, they were all hand painted.

[Tony Brooks]

53 minutes ago, Peanut said:

A boy at schools dad, worked as a painter, for Park Ward Mulliner the coachbuilders, they were all hand painted.

 

Judging by some of the comments that have been thrown around, a number of members may well think that you are talking about painting buses, rather than high-end coach built cars.

[truckcab79]

@Alan Wheeler

Might be worth just googling this and getting a few quotes as a lot of the replies are just anecdotes or not answering your actual question.    The price will depend massively on what condition your boat is in currently, what repairs and what level of finish you require and its size of course. Comparing with anyone else’s job doesn’t help. Same with cars, houses and anything else. 
 

It SHOULD be expensive. Labour is not cheap and most of the job is labour.  
 

I’ve regular seen folk posting £10-£20k regularly so if you think it’s going to be a couple of grand you need to find a way to do it yourself.  Speak to painters, try and see their work and send them pics and spec of your requirements. 
 

Might be worth calling a few boat builders and see who they use if it’s not in-house. 

[Tony Brooks]

27 minutes ago, truckcab79 said:

@Alan Wheeler

Might be worth just googling this and getting a few quotes as a lot of the replies are just anecdotes or not answering your actual question.    The price will depend massively on what condition your boat is in currently, what repairs and what level of finish you require and its size of course. Comparing with anyone else’s job doesn’t help. Same with cars, houses and anything else. 
 

It SHOULD be expensive. Labour is not cheap and most of the job is labour.  
 

I’ve regular seen folk posting £10-£20k regularly so if you think it’s going to be a couple of grand you need to find a way to do it yourself.  Speak to painters, try and see their work and send them pics and spec of your requirements. 
 

Might be worth calling a few boat builders and see who they use if it’s not in-house. 

 

This^^^^

 

Also get them to tell you what they do within the cost. Some will have all the vents off and windows/portholes out so all the steel can be prepped and repainted, while others will just prep and paint around them. That will not last if there is already some rust underneath. It may eventually creep out from under the frames or even push the frame from the cabin side, causing leaks. DAHIK

[Lady M]

Also ask how much cleaning up of the inside they do afterwards.  All that sanding, especially if the windows have been removed, can leave a LOT of dust.  

[Tonka]

1 hour ago, truckcab79 said:

@Alan Wheeler

Might be worth just googling this and getting a few quotes as a lot of the replies are just anecdotes or not answering your actual question.    The price will depend massively on what condition your boat is in currently, what repairs and what level of finish you require and its size of course. Comparing with anyone else’s job doesn’t help. Same with cars, houses and anything else. 
 

It SHOULD be expensive. Labour is not cheap and most of the job is labour.  
 

I’ve regular seen folk posting £10-£20k regularly so if you think it’s going to be a couple of grand you need to find a way to do it yourself.  Speak to painters, try and see their work and send them pics and spec of your requirements. 
 

Might be worth calling a few boat builders and see who they use if it’s not in-house. 

The op stated it was 60ft. 

If he works can you get 3 to 5 weeks off from work?

Does he already have sanders, grinders & the associated abrasives to do the job

Does he have the ability to do the job

[MrsM]

We paid £7k in 2023 for a full repaint with windows out, signwriting and blacking. We did a lot of prep work beforehand and clearing up afterwards. It took over a month. This was a very good price.

[GUMPY]

Ours was £8500 in 2020 for 60ft

Back to bare metal, all fittings/windows off and cleaned/polished and boat painted with 2 pack polyurethane. Done by Tol & Linda at Lilford on the Nene,  3-4 days boating away from Napton

 

 

Edited February 23, 2025 by GUMPY
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[MrsM]

11 minutes ago, MrsM said:

We paid £7k in 2023 for a full repaint with windows out, signwriting and blacking. We did a lot of prep work beforehand and clearing up afterwards. It took over a month. This was a very good price.

ETA 58'

 

[Cheshire cat]

Have a look at two pack. It doesn't fade like enamel does. Much easier to maintain if you want a shiny boat. Also, if the painter takes the windows out and depending on how they are fixed you could end up with leaks that will turn the woodwork black. Talking from experience.😟