Above water line hull paint

[PNWPederson]

I'm curious, has anyone with a GB painted the area between the rub rail and the lower teak railing a color other than white?

I just purchased a 1970 GB 32. Beautiful boat. She has kelly green canvas on her. With the white hull and white cabin, my wife mentioned that it seemed like a large amount of white without anything to break it up. I was thinking that when I pull her next spring for hull paint, I would paint the area from the lower teak rail to the rub rail in a darker kelly green and still have the hull the GB white with the boot stripe being red. Thoughts? Anyone have pictures of their boats with paint similar to that? Below are a couple of pics I modified with Photoshop to give me a bit of an idea. My apologies if this is your boat.

 

[CharlieO.]

I think it looks good and have been considering the same thing on my Marine Trader

 

[tiltrider1]

While not a GB, I have painted the same area on my boat. I recommend that you do not use a one part epoxy paint. Such paints are fine for a boot stripe but won’t hold up for large areas.

Upgrade at least to a two part epoxy or go with Axel Seal.

 

[Lepke]

When I was a commercial fisherman, green, anywhere on the hull was considered a bad luck color. It makes the vessel want to seek the deep green. While I can't say I believed it, I never used green on a boat or ship.
There were other superstitions I believed because they bit me.

 

[Comodave]

It depends on what paint is on the hull now. You can’t paint with 2 part over 1 part because the solvents in the 2 part is so strong.

 

[Kaniksu]

It is hard to tell the current condition of the hull. If you give it a good sanding and hit the entire hull with something easy to use and bullet proof like Pettit Easy Prime, you can top coat with anything.

 

[Comodave]

After thinking about it, I am not sure that I would do it. I am somewhat a traditionalist and I think that the white hull looks good. But it is your boat…

 

[Greg QS]

Alexseal all the way

 

[SIBERNUT]

I like it , BUT- alot depends on the dimensions of the areas. If the upper is too large, it overpowers the white hull

 

[PNWPederson]

I like it , BUT- alot depends on the dimensions of the areas. If the upper is too large, it overpowers the white hull

This is pretty much how she'd look. There is a very definitive area between the railing and the rub rail.

 

[Comodave]

Alexseal all the way

I agree on Alexseal if the paint on the hull is a 2 part paint. If the paint is one part paint and you go over it with a 2 part then there is a likelihood that the 2 part paint will soften the original paint.

 

[PNWPederson]

I agree on Alexseal if the paint on the hull is a 2 part paint. If the paint is one part paint and you go over it with a 2 part then there is a likelihood that the 2 part paint will soften the original paint.

My plan is to sand her down to get a smooth base, a couple of coats of primer and then one part epoxy. I sent a message to Pettit paints inquiring about what is best and should hear back from them in a couple of days.

 

[Comodave]

If you are going to sand the old paint off then I would go with Alexseal. It is super easy to apply. It will last probably at least twice as long, or more, than a 1 part paint. They have an additive that you can use that eliminates tipping, so you just have to roll it on and it will flow out. Andy at Boatworks Today has a bunch of videos on it. The results are awesome.

 

[Kaniksu]

My plan is to sand her down to get a smooth base, a couple of coats of primer and then one part epoxy. I sent a message to Pettit paints inquiring about what is best and should hear back from them in a couple of days.

Easy Prime (Pettit) is high build and simple to apply. One coat will do you.

 

[Grand Illusion]

Grand Banks beige might be something to consider for that area. We have a 1968 32 and agree that without another color, it's a lot of white. Our upper cabin sides are painted Grand Banks beige, and we really like the second color to break up the white.

 

[Caballero II]

Grand Banks beige might be something to consider for that area. We have a 1968 32 and agree that without another color, it's a lot of white. Our upper cabin sides are painted Grand Banks beige, and we really like the second color to break up the white.

Picture? I'm interested.

 

[Mako]

OP since you’re soliciting opinions… I understand the logic of going with a green color to match the canvas, however I feel it gives it a “dated” look.

Go with the beige as suggested and the two colors will compliment each other.

IMO

 

[lwarden]

Another vote for Alexseal, it's really great stuff and worth the extra cost if you plan to keep the boat.

 

[tiltrider1]

I just had the opportunity to spend some time with the painters in my favorite yard. We had a long discussion about interlux’s Toplac paint. This is a one part paint that has replaced their two part product formally known as Perfection. I asked why the change, they felt it was a response to Axelseal. In short Toplac can be rolled on with no tipping. It has very good leveling properties and a deep glossy finish. It does require a specific primer coat to work correctly.

 

[JackConnick]

I think you're fixing something that's not broken. When you go to sell buyers may reject the boat simply because they don't like the color or style. Also more upkeep, as it will need repainting after a while.

 

[PNWPederson]

I just had the opportunity to spend some time with the painters in my favorite yard. We had a long discussion about interlux’s Toplac paint. This is a one part paint that has replaced their two part product formally known as Perfection. I asked why the change, they felt it was a response to Axelseal. In short Toplac can be rolled on with no tipping. It has very good leveling properties and a deep glossy finish. It does require a specific primer coat to work correctly.

When I was at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, I heard some conversations about Pettit being the paint to use for wood hull boats and that people were moving away from Interlux.

 

[PNWPederson]

I think you're fixing something that's not broken. When you go to sell buyers may reject the boat simply because they don't like the color or style. Also more upkeep, as it will need repainting after a while.

I don't think that's the case at all. Someone may reject the boat on the color, but they may also reject it on the color of the canvas. I am not painting the boat for a future buyer, I am painting the boat for my current wants. If it needs to be repainted at a later date to white to match the lower hull, then it's an easy thing to do and won't take much effort and can be done in the water.

 

[PNWPederson]

OP since you’re soliciting opinions… I understand the logic of going with a green color to match the canvas, however I feel it gives it a “dated” look.

Go with the beige as suggested and the two colors will compliment each other.

IMO

Mako, I'm actually pretty good with that look and don't mind it looking like it's older, because in all honesty, the boat is 54 years young. I was thinking about doing the entire hull in green, but I'll do this first. If after I do this and I don't like it, it will be a simple process to change it.

 

[Mako]

Sounds good. Also remember that those beautiful, dark colors like blue, red and green will fade very quickly and look chalky. Maybe just a few years later.

Perhaps consider some Key West pastel variant. My boat in the Persian Gulf was KW light green and held up fine in the 130° heat and sun.

 

[tiltrider1]

When I was at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, I heard some conversations about Pettit being the paint to use for wood hull boats and that people were moving away from Interlux.

Don’t know who you talked to. I just inspected a Grand Alaskan (a woody) that Haven Boat Works just painted with Interlux Toplac. I wouldn’t have believed it wasn’t sprayed if I hadn’t seen them roll it on the day before.