Dark Hulled Boat Problems?

[Tim S/V Zephyr]

Hello Folks...
I'm new to the forum. I just bought a 1983 Catalina 25 sailboat that I'll be using primarily on mountain lakes here in Colorado, with an occasional trip to Southern California or the Sea of Cortez. I'll be teaching sailing classes in this boat and had planned to paint the aging gelcoat topsides a dark blue or black color, as I think this eye catching color will help with advertizing. I just read an old post that talks about how dark hulled boats absorb far more heat, to the point that it can damage the fiberglass and lead to surface deformation (surface bumps and print through). Has anyone with a dark hull experienced any problems like this? Should this deter me from painting my hull a darker color?
Thanks for your insight!
Tim

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Tim
I have heard the same, however, let me tell you my experience -
1994 boat (my avatar) painted Awlgrip dark green in 2004. Since then, frequent rinse after sailing, annual wax and that's it for maintenance. No print-through, no deformation, no apparent interior heat (but that's in Rhode Island, not the tropics where it might be a different story), no anomalies of any kind. No fading either after 7 years!
I know the theory but I also know my reality and this "stuff" just doesn't happen.

What I suggest you consider is the likelihood, particularly if you are using it as a teaching boat, for it to get hit, hit the dock or otherwise get scratches which can go through the paint exposing the old while gel. Those scratches would not be as evident had you left the topsides white which is why lots of folks may prefer vanilla.

My biggest and only complaint about the hull color is that it's a bitch to find in a dark and foggy mooring field

 

[Tim S/V Zephyr]

Good Thoughts

Hey Don...

Thanks for the reply. That's good to hear that not all dark hulls are problematic! Your paint job does look fantastic. As you pointed out, I'm a little worried about students running into the dock and scuffing up the dark paint. Definitely something to consider in the overall equation. Appreciate your thoughts!

Tim