Under deck paint

[Dave Diefenderfer]

In refurbishing my sneakbox, I pulled several of the bow deck boards and have replaced the mast step and daggerboard trunk. Before I replace the deck, I am thinking I would like to paint as much as I can get get to. It will be a messy job and I am sure I will wear a bunch! I was thinking maybe I should paint the non-visible areas white to reflect some light, rather than the DGG FME I plan to use one the outside and visible portions of the cockpit. If I was to use white, is there a HD/Lowes paint I can use? Would any good oil based exterior paint work? Thanks for the input... Dave

 

[GaryRI]

I'd go to West Marine & pick up a West clear epoxy product to seal the raw wood. After that the short answer to your "good oil exterior" question is "yes". i favor Rustoleum brand.

I assume your boat doesn't live on a mooring in the water or a marina, and is mostly trailered then hosed off after every use even if it is used in salt water.

I have a 20 year old 16' fiberglas rowing dory. I just used an exterior paint primer & Rustoleum "sand" color to paint the interior. As far as I'm concerned the paint is to protect the fiberglas from UV. If it wears so what? I'll just repaint it.

i have a 23' boat w/175 outboard that "lives" on a mooring all summer. It was built by a small boat builder here in RI. I had some work done on it by another small local boat builder. When I was looking at it with him the first thing he did was reach his hand into a void to feel the underside of a plywood interior bulkhead. I asked him what he was doing. He said he wanted to see if the builder used an epoxy sealer on the surfaces it was impossible to see (they were coated).

 

[gcs]

A light color in and under the decks is a good idea, it does help to see under there.
I would just use an oil based exterior paint, deck and patio enamel is easy to find at the box stores, and thin the first coat by half maybe, so it penetrates the wood better. Think of it as a paint "stain". if you can stand it, a second coat of unthinned paint couldn't hurt.