Bilge Paint v Hammerite

[umpire111]

do I really need to use specific bilge paint as I have a quantity of silver smooth hammerite which says can go directly onto rust. The bilge paint recommends rust treatment, primer and then the paint. My bilges are fairly dry so wondered what were the advantages of the Bilge Paint?

[clbrof]

Some bilge paints offer oil resistance etc.

[jake_crew]

Hammerite is very brittle, and not compatible with some oils/fuels.

 

And you need to wire brush off the loose scale as well.

 

But if you've already got it ..................

[dor]

I've used white Hammerite Smoothrite in my bilge. Seems to be as good, or in fact better, than bilge paint and seems just as resistant to oil and the odd drip of battery acid.

[pearley]

I've used white Hammerite Smoothrite in my bilge. Seems to be as good, or in fact better, than bilge paint and seems just as resistant to oil and the odd drip of battery acid.

Same here. In the bit under the stern gland, after scraping and vacuuming out, I poured it in and then spread it all around. Still there ok 2 years later.

[captain birdseye]

Bilge paint is designed to have sitting water on it without it degrading. Hammerite isn't

Edited April 15, 2015 by captain birdseye

[Murflynn]

Bilge paint is designed to have sitting water on it without it degrading. Hammerite isn't

maybe not but it works.

[Alan Saunders]

IME Hammerite sticks to rust but not to a smooth surface - i.e. it needs a 'rough' keyed surface. Best remove all rust then an inhibitor primer followed by bilge, or even garage floor paint resistant to petrol/diesel fuel and oils.