Hello there! I'm in the process of buying a 1984 Hunter 31... I'm really excited about the boat- its now white with a blue stripe. I wanted to paint the hull navy blue. However- today a guy who used to be a professional diver told me - that if a boat does not have a dark hull, the hull material was not formulated to deal with the extra heat a darker hull would absorb, and this could cause problems - such as de-lamination, etc. is there any truth to this - i.e., is painting the hull from light to dark a bad idea? Or - is this guy just talking without knowing what he's saying? Let me know your thoughts on this. I'd really had my heart set on a repaint. Thanks!
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my hull was painted 6 years ago
and still looks as good as the day it was painted (and better than it did the day before painting). The theory he told you is that glass never fully cures and the extra heat absorbed by a dark color expedites the process slightly making it theoretically possible for deformation or delamination to occur. Also, if you live in south Fl, which you apparently do not, you might be concerned with the extra heat created inside the boat. There are hundreds if not thousands of boats painted dark colors and although I'm sure some have had issues, there could be lots of reasons other than what your diver told you as I can't say that has been my experience. It is also much easier to maintain a well painted topsides than regular white gelcoat.
and still looks as good as the day it was painted (and better than it did the day before painting). The theory he told you is that glass never fully cures and the extra heat absorbed by a dark color expedites the process slightly making it theoretically possible for deformation or delamination to occur. Also, if you live in south Fl, which you apparently do not, you might be concerned with the extra heat created inside the boat. There are hundreds if not thousands of boats painted dark colors and although I'm sure some have had issues, there could be lots of reasons other than what your diver told you as I can't say that has been my experience. It is also much easier to maintain a well painted topsides than regular white gelcoat.
Really! Wow!!
I'm actually in California- where are you with this blue hull??
Have you had a noticeable increase in heat inside since? This is really interesting... You may have re-raised the possibility of a topside paint job in navy blue!! Thanks for your reply!! Julie
I'm actually in California- where are you with this blue hull??
Have you had a noticeable increase in heat inside since? This is really interesting... You may have re-raised the possibility of a topside paint job in navy blue!! Thanks for your reply!! JulieLight hulls are much cooler
I once owned a boat with hunter green hull. When lying in the v-berth you could actually feel the heat coming through the gelcoat. I paid to have it repainted ... not a cheap undertaking. I would never own a dark hulled boat again.
I once owned a boat with hunter green hull. When lying in the v-berth you could actually feel the heat coming through the gelcoat. I paid to have it repainted ... not a cheap undertaking. I would never own a dark hulled boat again.
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It depends where you live. Here in Fla, forget it! Ours is white n it avgs 110F inside our boat when closed up for the week during summer. That's w/ Nicro vents. We had non skid light gray and changed that too! Global Warming?
It depends where you live. Here in Fla, forget it! Ours is white n it avgs 110F inside our boat when closed up for the week during summer. That's w/ Nicro vents. We had non skid light gray and changed that too! Global Warming?
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