How to paint a Narrowboat?

[nwj2000]

Hi Guys,

 

I want to paint the exterior of my boat. I've no idea how to go about it. Any advice on the following would be greatly appreciated;

 

1. What prep do I need to do? The paint finish is quite poor at the moment as it was hand painted last time. Which type if any of power sander should I use?

 

2. What paint do I need?

 

3. How to apply it to get the best finish?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Nick

[Ray T]

These may help:

 

 

[Bobbybass]

Hi Guys,

 

I want to paint the exterior of my boat. I've no idea how to go about it. Any advice on the following would be greatly appreciated;

 

1. What prep do I need to do? The paint finish is quite poor at the moment as it was hand painted last time. Which type if any of power sander should I use?

 

2. What paint do I need?

 

3. How to apply it to get the best finish?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Nick

 

I've not painted a narrowboat...but over the years I have hand painted high quailty cars. I restored Rollers and classic Jaguars...bringing them to show finish.

There will be many other helpful hints here but mine would be :

 

Establish total compatibilty with primers, undercoats and top coats.

Never take a chance with..(for instance) feathering an edge...unless you a certain of no reaction. If the new paint lifts the feather...even slightly..then you have a total strip down to do...which is worse because you wasted paint.

Its better to do this total stripdown first if there are any doubts.

 

It is absolutely the case....that any flaw in the primer/ undercoat will gradually get worse as you build up coats. I have found this to be worse with narrowboats as there are so many long flat areas that you sight along on a daily basis. I think..the standard that you 'flat' to is down to you. Because of my background I am driven mad by any marks or imperfections...but the standard that you wish to accept is down to you.

 

I will leave off here...as there will be better narrowboat advice than I can offer.

 

Bob

[Guest]

Hi Guys,

 

I want to paint the exterior of my boat. I've no idea how to go about it. Any advice on the following would be greatly appreciated;

 

1. What prep do I need to do? The paint finish is quite poor at the moment as it was hand painted last time. Which type if any of power sander should I use?

 

2. What paint do I need?

 

3. How to apply it to get the best finish?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Nick

Phil Speight (member on here) used to distribute a very good audio CD which gave loads of useful info. Maybe he still does?

[WotEver]

Phil Speight (member on here) used to distribute a very good audio CD which gave loads of useful info. Maybe he still does?

He has that CD as MP3s now, too

[Grace and Favour]

Hi Guys,

 

I want to paint the exterior of my boat. I've no idea how to go about it. Any advice on the following would be greatly appreciated;

 

1. What prep do I need to do? The paint finish is quite poor at the moment as it was hand painted last time. Which type if any of power sander should I use?

 

2. What paint do I need?

 

3. How to apply it to get the best finish?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Nick

 

 

Phil Speight (member on here) used to distribute a very good audio CD which gave loads of useful info. Maybe he still does?

 

Phil Speight (member and also associated with Craftmaster Paints) also runs occasional short courses on boat painting (He is extremely highly regarded as a boat painter)

You could do a lot worse than attend one of his courses........

[micky44]

I would of thought perhaps that you would of perhaps been better of researching big end bearings/lack of white metal and lack of oil pressure/ water ingress from ill fitting skin fittings, and ballast issues, than painting an allready respectable looking boat.

Edited March 15, 2012 by micky44

[carlt]

I would of thought perhaps that you would of perhaps been better of researching big end bearings/lack of white metal and lack of oil pressure/ water ingress from ill fitting skin fittings, and ballast issues, than painting an allready respectable looking boat.

 

 

.......what i object to is wothless off the cuff comment remarks in a thread were some one is trying to gain info....

[carlt]

Its light hearted banter, I would of thought that you would of reconised that as you so frequently allegedly partake in it.

Saying that you will hold someone under water, whilst strangling them is a threat of violence.

 

I have never threatened anyone with violence, neither here nor anywhere else.

Edited March 15, 2012 by carlt

[Alan de Enfield]

Well that didnt take long - is it a record ?

 

1 question

5 related replies

A virtual 'punch-up' by post 10

 

Edit - I guess now the offending posts have been removed my post doesnt make much sense now !!

Edited March 15, 2012 by Alan de Enfield

[Theo]

I have set a whole series of daft/threatening/abusive comments so that they cannot be seen.

 

Please read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the forum rules and guidelines. Ask yourselves "Is it nice?" and "Is it kind?" If your post is neither of these, please hit the cancel button.

 

All the best

 

NIck

[carlt]

suspions

You didn't read Theo's post then?

Edited March 15, 2012 by Theo
Dear me!

[Theo]

You didn't read Theo's post then?

 

Perhaps I didn't make my self clear.

 

Ho, hum...

 

Nick

[micky44]

ha ha well im pleased at least that you read my post, because you quoted me !!!! hahahahhahahahahahahahaha

[carlt]

ha ha well im pleased at least that you read my post, because you quoted me !!!! hahahahhahahahahahahahaha

 

 

No harm done.

Edited March 15, 2012 by Theo
Please don't add more fuel, Carl!

[Theo]

Please get back to the topic or will close it and we will lose a potentially valuable set of comments.

 

Nick

[bizzard]

Erm. Pick a nice dry and still day if painting outside and at this time of year don't apply the top gloss coat after say 1pm for fear of it blooming if it turns cold and a dew happens later.

[Theo]

Erm. Pick a nice dry and still day if painting outside and at this time of year don't apply the top gloss coat after say 1pm for fear of it blooming if it turns cold and a dew happens later.

 

Thanks, Mr Bizzard.

 

Good night

 

N

[bizzard]

Thanks, Mr Bizzard.

 

Good night

 

N

Nite Nick.

[nwj2000]

I would of thought perhaps that you would of perhaps been better of researching big end bearings/lack of white metal and lack of oil pressure/ water ingress from ill fitting skin fittings, and ballast issues, than painting an allready respectable looking boat.

 

No fear, I'll be doing all of that and more before I pick up a paint brush! Just wanted a heads up really.

 

Nick

 

Phil Speight (member and also associated with Craftmaster Paints) also runs occasional short courses on boat painting (He is extremely highly regarded as a boat painter)

You could do a lot worse than attend one of his courses........

 

Sounds great, any idea where I get more info on one of his courses please?

[alan_fincher]

Don't, if you have no previous experience, underestimate what is involved!

 

There is a very good reason why professional outfits can charge £6,000 and upwards for a full "back to metal" boat repaint.

 

Doing it well yourself is probably harder, slower, work than you can imagine,even if you can find reasonable facility to do it under cover.

 

I'd say try to attempt it outside, and it becomes a whole order of magnitude harder.

 

We largely painted one of ours throughout in 2009, but it was over 3 weeks of very intensive effort, does not look like a "proper" professional repaint, and I can't claim it was ever truly "finished" before we started knocking it off again!

 

The consolation, of course, is it didn't cost £6K - had it of done, I think I would largely have stopped boating, because with the amount we do, it wouldn't have taken long to put a scrape down it!

[Grace and Favour]

 

 

Sounds great, any idea where I get more info on one of his courses please?

 

Have sent you a PM Nick

[Phil Speight]

Hi

I would be happy to offer what advice I can - ring me on 01838 400269 - and no,I won`t try to sell you anything, paint, courses whatever.

[leolady too]

We did ours and I think did a pretty good job. Everybody says so and its true that all the effort and most of the time is in the preparation (say 90% prep to 10% final painting). Putting the paint on with a roller and tipping off with a good brush worked for us. If you mess a bit up leave it DO NOT GO BACK. I'd say it's all but impossible to get a good finish in the open. The paint will go off too quickly or too slowly or you'll have bits, bugs, dust, leaves etc in it. You can save a shed load of money (if you don't cost your own time) and get a good or very good result but it takes time, research and care. Phil's CD gave us loads of help and I commend it to you. We used his paint too and think it's excellent. Good Luck.

[Québec]

We're still painting ours....two years after we bought it!

Most of the time outside, but took advantage of a week in a shed doing the blacking to at least get some major painting done in a decent environment.

 

Skills, materials and attributes required:

Patience (excess amounts)

Buy/use the best paint, brushes, rollers, professional masking tape, etc, you can afford.

Preparation, preparation, preparation!

Practice on a small, unimportant area first. My ability to get a decent finish improved immensely once I got the hang of it.

Only paint in the optimum or at least decent conditions, and keep an eye on the weather.

 

Use/search this forum (ignoring the uncivil wars that occasionally break out) as there's tons of useful information and a lot of people prepared to offer valuable advice.