Owning a boat is a very huge thing nowadays considering the value and demand a boat has in today’s time. You can own a boat just for sailing or fishing or tourism or even as a property for ambiance! No joke this has pitched up a notch on the boat or Yacht owning circles. Let us know more detail about ‘How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Boat?’.
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Boat?
Painting a boat depends on the size and the quality of the paint you buy and the time you invest in painting the boat with designs or drawings of your liking. Approximately painting an average-sized boat might cost around $7000 to $10000. For an undamaged boat, it could cost around $100 to $500 per linear foot. As everybody knows that you require water-resistant paint that should also protect your boat from rusting and sun damage and wear and tear. So it depends on the boat size and quality and life expected of it.
Why paint a boat?
You need to paint the boat for various reasons. It includes the following
- Protection from UV rays- since boats turn to get worn out if exposed to sun rays for a longer period. All machines and spare parts might get damaged due to overheating.
- To keep your boat alive and well on the sea you must paint it with a good bottom paint to have better buoyance.
- Rust free. The major problem faced by boat owners is the rust that automatically forms when you expose iron materials to salty water in the open air. They are the worst enemies for your engines to seize up and create huge trouble when not maintained properly. They call it marine corrosion.
- Both the top portion and bottom portion of the boat need protection from the sealine above and below respectively.
- To give life. Boats need their vibrant look while sailing and that is only possible with the colors. Once in a year, the boat may require a slight touch-up or even a complete makeover depending on the condition of the boat.
Type of boat paints and their benefits
Topside boat paint
They are painted on the areas above the waterline i.e. the areas which are not exposed to seawater too much. They may include the decks, rooms, walls, bilges, and wooden flooring. Painting these areas with UV resistance, durable, chipping, and crack resistant paint rather than a normal household paint might increase its life.
Bottom side boat paint-
the bottom side boat paints must have an antifouling property to protect boats from further damages caused because of fouling. Long-distance voyagers and cruisers must have either hard-modified epoxy paints or ablative bottom paints. They can also go for water-based bottom paints to prevent marine growth.
Aluminum boat paint-
Aluminium-safe bottom paints prevent the hulls from galvanic corrosion.
Fiberglass boat paints-
fiberglass boats need special care and attention. Just like any other wooden – boat it also requires the basic things but a little bit more care. You first apply primer as a thin coat then apply the paint and finish it off by applying wax. The things to be looked into while buying this paint are if it is a single-part enamel paint or single-part polyurethane paint or two parts polyurethane paint. It will do better if both the brushes and the rollers work together for painting a fiberglass boat. Instead of applying two thick coats, you can always apply many thin coats. They do the job better than the former.
Wood boat paint –
any paints that give you an oil finish can be applied to wooden boats. Clearing the surface and painting the boat goes with the waxing or varnishing at the end.
Approximately Estimated cost for all the above-mentioned points:
- Topside boat paint – to cover an area of around 300-400 square feet per gallon it costs about $30 to $320.
- Ablative antifouling bottom paints – to cover the area of around 500 square feet per gallon you will be charged around $40 to $280.
- Hard modified proxy paints – (bottom shield antifouling paint) to cover the area of around 500 square feet per gallon it costs about $60 to $350
- Water-based bottom paints – for the same 500 square feet per gallon this costs $75 to $460 approximately.
- Aluminum safe bottom paint- this ranges from $90 to $340.
- Fiberglass boat paints- might cost you around $100 to $500 vaguely.
- Wooden boat paints- costs around $20 to $80 for a boat’s 500 square feet per gallon.
Conclusion
Now we have learnt ‘How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Boat?’, All these paints can cost you a handful but applying Them with the help of any professionals can add extra costs such as service fees. Again they vary depending on the company. A proper application of paint at the very first can save so much on future expenses. It is advisable to have proper guidance or professional service to paint your boat for the first time.
FAQs
Q. How many times should you paint a boat?
If the boat is in a good condition and with proper usage and proper maintenance the need to paint will be reduced to once a year and it’ll become otherwise if mishandled or not maintained properly.