Bilge Paint

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Special bilge paint protects your boat or yacht's storage compartments and bilge from moisture and mechanical stress. These modern, high-performance boat paints are synthetic resin based and create a particularly smooth and resistant finish that is easy to clean and withstands the damage caused by oils or fuel. Want to buy bilge paint? In this section you will find a wide variety from brands such as HEMPEL, INTERNATIONAL and BOERO as well as helpful advice on how to work with them.

What is bilge paint?

- A lasting and reliable seal -

High-quality bilge paint protects against damage and water in the bilge! Irrespective of whether the hull of your boat is made of wood, GRP, aluminium or steel - condensation or water from leaks as well as oil and fuel residues in the bilge of your boat, collectively referred to as bilge sludge, will damage any material. On a GRP boat, water in the bilge can cause the laminate to corrode, leading to the dreaded osmosis. Synthetic resin-based paints in particular offer reliable protection for these areas: so-called PUR paints (polyurethane paints) consist of a synthetic resin, usually acrylic resin or alkyd resin, and a hardener. When curing, these resins react with the air or air humidity or with a hardener as an additional component. With a 1-component paint the hardener is already added, 2-component paints require the hardener to be added shortly before use and thoroughly stirred. 2K paint is more expensive and slightly more complex to process, but it is more scratch-resistant and resistant to chemical influences such as those caused by fuels, oils or light acids and alkalis.

Two-component bilge paint is by far the better option compared to one-component bilge paint. Disadvantage of 2K paints: Drying time is significantly longer than with 1K paints and at temperatures below 10 °C the chemical reaction is not possible and the paint does not cure completely. Processing time is also very short, with a pot life of only 4 - 5 hours, which is why only small areas should be worked on at any one time, and only correspondingly small quantities of paint should be mixed with hardener. Generally speaking, both paint systems offer sufficient protection against moisture, this also applies to the interior of open boats (fishing boats or inflatable boats). The smooth surface is also very easy to clean, which makes unpleasant odours less likely to develop in the bilge in the first place. Bilge paint also protects storage spaces and bulkheads from damage and dirt.

We stock paints in various colours from the manufacturers HEMPEL, BOERO and INTERNATIONAL, including red bilge paint, black bilge paint and grey bilge paint.

Prepping the bilge for painting - what to know

- Clean surface is essential if you want good adhesion -

Before painting the bilge, the substrate must be completely clean and dry. This applies to both 1K paints and 2K paints. If the surface is already coated and in good condition, it can be washed with a boat cleaner (silicone remover or GFRP cleaner for GRP) and rinsed with fresh water. Remove all loose layers of paint. 2-component paint should not be painted over 1-component paint, so this should be removed completely if using 2-part paint. Then allow the substrate to dry and sand carefully with P180 to P280 sandpaper . You can remove dust residues with a dust cloth from Yachtcare. Bilge paint is best applied in dry weather. Wear protective clothing and ventilate the work area thoroughly to protect yourself from harmful fumes. For a perfect end result. make sure you read the manufacturer's instructions of the respective paint.

GRP bilge paint: Dry GRP does not need to be primed. However, constantly damp bilges should be sealed with a few coats of primer before applying bilge paint such as DANBOLINE INTERNATIONAL Bilge Paint in one to two coats.

Steel bilge paint: Remove rust from steel boats as fully as possible, ideally with a sandblaster. Before painting with bilge paint, manufacturers recommend several coats of a corrosion protection primer.

Aluminium bilge paint: For aluminium boats, careful cleaning and sanding is usually enough. However, some manufacturers also recommend an overwater primer for aluminium. Painting can then be done after sanding.

Bilge paint on wooden boats: Untreated wood should be primed with a boat primer for overwater use.

Bilge paint can usually be applied undiluted with a roller and brush. If necessary, you can use Thinner for Boat Varnish & Yacht Paints in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. It is essential that you observe the drying times according to the instructions between working steps. Sanding between coats will give a smoother result if wanted.

Related categories: Varnishing accessories

Other helpful products are available from us in other sections on our website, including primers for boats protective clothing brushes & foam brushes or painting rollers for boat paints. Take a look at our SVB guide, which gives useful hints and tips on how to work on your boat.

Customer ratings & reviews

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Gregor H. on 18.03.2024

D

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CRISTIAN DAN P. on 18.03.2024

Perfect !

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Bostjan K. on 18.03.2024

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