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The Best Boat Paints to Decorate and Repair Your Ride
No matter what type of boat you own, painting it and adding a bit of personal flair is always fun. Whether you choose to add a colorful stripe to the side or repaint the entire boat’s body, using high-quality, durable, and long-lasting paint is essential. Regardless of how you choose to paint your boat, you first need to decide on the right boat paint for your DIY project. To help you out, we've collected the best boat paints of 2024. The classic TotalBoat Boat Paint is our top pick, and you can check out our buying guide and other recommendations to learn more!
Our Top Picks For Boat Paints
- Best Overall: TotalBoat Boat Paint Shop Now ➔
- Easiest To Use: Duralux Boat Paint Shop Now ➔
- Quick Drying: Rust-Oleum Boat Paint Shop Now ➔
- Best Colors: Marine Coat One Gel Repair Kit Shop Now ➔
- 1 The Types of Boat Paint
- 2 Topside boat paint
- 3 Bottom paint
- 4 Wood boat paint
- 5 Tips When Using Boat Paint
- 6 Use the right type of paint
- 7 Follow the instructions carefully
- 8 Give ample time for the paint to dry
- 9 Choose the right colors
Can boat paint be used on all parts of the boat?
When should i paint my boat, does boat paint last forever, related articles, the best boat paints of 2024, best overall.
TotalBoat Boat Paint
Boats are almost always left exposed to the elements, which is why you’ll want a boat paint that will last you for years to come. The TotalBoat Boat Paint is a solid choice for any boat lover and has more than 20 colors to choose from, including aqua mist, sea foam, and fire red. The paint leaves behind a gloss that’s bright and is sure to stand out among other boats at the dock. This boat paint is incredibly easy and simple to apply. You don’t need to be an expert to give your boat a good coating with this seamless paint. Thanks to this boat paint’s bold profile and numerous color options, we’ve chosen it as our best overall pick, particularly for those who want to try painting their boat for the first time.
- Glossy and durable finish
- Up to 20 colors to choose from
- Self-leveling formula
- Not all colors are always available
Easiest To Use
Duralux Boat Paint
For many, painting a boat can be a risky endeavor. Owning a boat isn’t very cheap, and making a mistake during the paint job can lead to stains and errors that are difficult to fix. So, unless you can afford professional help, you may not want to take the plunge. Fortunately, painting a boat isn’t rocket science and with the help of the Duralux Boat Paint, it can be a fun and easy task. The paint only needs two thin coats with either a brush, roller, or airless sprayer. As long as you don’t paint your boat under the sun, you’ll get consistent and reliable results with this paint. The range of colors is a little bit limiting, but if you can get past that this boat paint is a strong first choice for novice boat owners.
- Very easy to apply
- Can be applied with various tools
- Long-lasting finish
- No warm color options available
Quick Drying
Rust-Oleum Boat Paint
Are you pressed for time or just itching to head into the water as soon as possible? The Rust-Oleum Boat Paint offers a quick and easy solution to all your problems. This paint dries in as little as one or two hours, which means you can start boating on the very same day you apply the paint. With a formula that retains its gloss over time, your boat will look as good as new for months or years to come depending on how you maintain it. While this boat paint only offers eight color options, it has a nice range of colors and most boaters are sure to find exactly what they’re looking for. If you’re okay with neutral color tones, such as sand beige or battleship gray, this fast-drying boat paint is a great investment.
- Dries very quickly
- Retains its gloss
- Great for use on fiberglass
- Not many color options
Best Colors
Marine Coat One Gel Repair Kit
With an easy-to-use formula and fast-drying properties, this gel coat will make your DIY boat project into an effortless task. Its versatile nature extends beyond boats, making it a perfect choice for fiberglass and other materials as well.
The real charm of Marine Coat One is its ability to create perfect color matches, bringing a fresh, vibrant look to your ride. Mix it up to get your preferred shade and watch as your boat wears a new, sparkling look. And it’s not just about aesthetics, it’s about enhancing durability too. So, if you’re looking forward to a sailing season with a boat that looks brand new and stands strong, this might just be your best bet.
- Easy to mix and apply
- Durable and long-lasting
- Provides a good color match
- Instructions are not novice-friendly
The Ultimate Buying Guide to the Best Boat Paints
When launching a boat renovation project, there’s a lot to keep in mind, such as boat carpets , boat seats , boat cushions , and more. But the most important element of all is boat paint. To renovate your boat, you’re going to need more than just regular old paint. Enter boat paint, a unique type of paint that is durable enough to stick to a boat in water. Boat paint usually leaves behind a glossy finish that gives your vehicle a nice tone that really pops when out on the water.
Because boat paint is made to last, you can expect a coating to stay in good condition for months or even years to come. How long your boat paint lasts will vary depending on how often you use your boat, where you’re boating, and how you store your boat when not in the water. There’s a lot to consider when buying boat point, so we’ve prepared a guide to help you out.
The Types of Boat Paint
Topside boat paint.
Topside paint is paint that’s applied on the top half of the boat, or the part of the boat that isn’t submerged in the water. While this type of paint can get wet, it’s used mostly for decorative purposes rather than protective purposes. You can get topside paint in a variety of colors and they can dry as quickly as one hour after application depending on the formula.
While topside paint may not be as protective as bottom boat paint, it’s still great for keeping your boat protected from harsh UV rays. Even your boat can feel the effects of the sun after weeks or months of exposure and a good coating of topside paint can prevent any UV damage from occurring on your boat’s hull.
Bottom paint
Bottom paint is a type of paint that’s applied to the bottom half of the boat, or the part of the boat that’s submerged underwater. This type of paint isn’t always visible as it’s under the water, but depending on how clear the water is you may be able to get a glimpse of it. Where bottom paint truly shines is in its ability to protect the boat from organisms in the water.
There are many critters in seas and lakes that can cause damage to your boat over time. Weeds and barnacles are some of the most common culprits. Bottom paint minimizes the chances of these critters from getting on your boat, ensuring it stays in good condition for much longer.
Wood boat paint
Wood boat paint is a type of paint that’s applied to wooden parts of the boat. These paints are not as long-lasting as other paints but are great if you want to preserve the wood finish on your boat.
Tips When Using Boat Paint
Use the right type of paint.
There are many types of boat paints that are used for certain applications. Before you think about the color or finish of the paint, first consider where you’re applying the paint. Are you trying to protect the bottom of your boat? Will you be adding color to the topside? Ask yourself these questions before buying so you can be sure to choose the correct type of paint, then you can choose the color.
Follow the instructions carefully
Paint is pretty easy to use and apply, but not all paints are the same. Depending on the formula of the paint, you may need to apply it a certain way or use specific tools for the best results. Even if you have experience painting walls, floors, or other surfaces, boats are a different thing entirely. You should always follow the instructions on the product packaging.
Give ample time for the paint to dry
Some paint formulas take overnight to dry, while others take only one or two hours. While you may be tempted to take the boat out for a ride as soon as the recommended drying time is over, it never hurts to wait one or two more hours just to be on the safe side. Unless you can comb over every inch of where you painted, it’s always a good idea to give the paint just a little extra time to dry. After all, the paint will be there for months or even years to come, so an extra hour won’t hurt.
Choose the right colors
Choosing the right colors for your boat paint can be a tricky task depending on how you want the paint to look. If you’re looking to simply paint over some scratches, it’s not too difficult to find the right color, but if you want to redecorate the hull that’s a different story. Think about what colors you like and how you want your boat to look. You may also want to consider the location itself, or where you plan on using the boat. These considerations may be trivial, but they’re worth thinking about if you want your boat to look nice in the end.
People Also Asked
No. There are certain types of boat paint used for specific parts of the boat, such as the topside or bottom.
If you feel like your boat could use a new paint job or if your boat has scratches from damage done by docking, it may be time to repaint your boat.
While boat paint formulas are made to last for as long as possible, these paints do not last forever and you will eventually have to apply another coat in the future.
Article Contributors
Sail magazine review team.
SAIL Magazine Review Team reports on best-selling products in sailing and boating. SAIL Magazine is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Artificial Intelligence (large language models) may have been used in the research and creation of the content.
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