Why Paint?[]
Painting the outside of the hull reduces surface friction, increases anti-fouling, hides cosmetic blemishes from the layup, and helps seal the hull. In addition to cosmetic value, a paint colour should be selected to increase contrast with water.
Type of Paint[]
Marine paints vary based on their intended application and the substrate to be painted. For an epoxy laminate, as typically used by mast, a primer can often be avoided, reducing weight and cost. For dry-sailed boats, ie those that do not need to be moored in water for a substantial amount of time, non-antifouling paints may be used. For boats that must stay in the water, like the 4m , an antifouling bottom paint should be used. In most cases, VC 17 is a good general purpose antifouling paint.
Past Paint Jobs[]
Gaelforce was painted with VC Performance Epoxy, in white. The hull received two coats, brushed on by hand. In the future, this product, (and potentially all painting?) should be done using a spray gun.
Prior to it's covering with foam and fiberglass, the Gaelforce Keel was painted with VC Performance Epoxy. However, the extreme deflection caused the epoxy-based paint to crack off, even before the keel was mounted.