What's the Best Color ?

[nv5l]

I'm going to repaint my topsides this summer and was thinking to changing the color. I repainted the decks white last summer, so the topsides are next.

She's dark blue right now, but I'd like something more visible. I like red, especially deep dark reds, but don't think that would be much better than what I've got.

Suggestions, and photos, would be appreciated. The OSR mentions a 4 square meter patch of orange or some other florescent color on the deck and hull. Does anyone actually do that?

[Bash]

Originally Posted by nv5l

She's dark blue right now, but I'd like something more visible.

If you want visible, go with school-bus yellow.

I certainly understand why a school bus would want to be that color, or even a kayak. Maybe even a life raft. But I'm having a hard time understanding why a sailboat would want to be more visible.

Are you worried about ships? They will see your sails long before they can tell what color you painted your hull.

[nv5l]

That's true, if the sails are up, but they might not always be up, especially in bad weather when visibility might also be limited.

In any case, School bus yellow probably won't make the short list, but dark blue is damn near invisible.

[CDunc]

Hmm light colors show the scum beard, dark colors show the inperfections and is hot if you go south. Why not make a statement and have a mural painted like the vans back in the 70's

[nv5l]

Heck, if I wanted to do that, I could just put it on a truck and park it in the Bronx overnight.

[CDunc]

Yeah but how do you get the boat to the water after they take your truck haha

[Chef-of-the-Sea]

Go with Green, I am a fan of green boats. Looks good with teak, and hides dirt

[foamcore]

International orange. That will show up!

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by nv5l

The OSR mentions a 4 square meter patch of orange or some other florescent color on the deck and hull. Does anyone actually do that?

There was a thread here some (long) time ago.. sorry don't ask me the title, but one of the final post was from a USCG Search & Rescue pilot. His comments/obesrvations were an eye opener.

Basically the "florescent color" is so you can be found. I think the main area he was talking about was bottom paint, since blue is so popular. What a counter-productive choice for search and rescue purposes.

Other than that, perhaps your choice of color should considering which ones hold up and hide flaws/dirt better. Some colors love to oxidize. Lots of argument here re dark colored hulls making or not making for a hot interior.

With your dark hull, if you paint it light without taking all the blue off, scratches will break your heart.

Downstream of that, it's against the rules to ask me what your favorite color is.

[tager]

I would go white or light grey, personally.

[GordMay]

Something like ➥ Daytime Yellow Glow in the Dark Paint - ?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Something like ➥ Daytime Yellow Glow in the Dark Paint - ?

Nice link Gord.... reckon that Glow in the Dark Sand would be great for the deck treads so's all the 'Toe Breaker Sailors' can be safe at night... if it glows... its safe...

[boatman61]

Black and Yellow goes well with smoke blue deck treads.... well I liked it..
And I've found everything looks the same at night... if I can see what colour it is I'm wayyyyyyy to close...

[barnakiel]

IMHO fluo pink (3M - like cargo/fisher patch above the bridge deck) is visible best. Rescue orange & bright reds are good too.

Colored sails are fine but at times there will be no sails up.

White is pretty well visible too, but not when the spray starts to fly.

Orange or tan sails are good by day but tan sails give little reflection when you beam spot on them at night.

b.

[micah719]

I'm playing with the idea of a dazzle camouflage*, sails included....the idea being that lookouts will spend so much more time staring at me to try and figure out my course and speed that the collision risk is lessened. Another thought was that since Zebra's stripes repel flies, perhaps I'll get less insects annoying me. Somali freelance customs agents are another matter altogether.....anyone selling a CIWS cheap?


*p.s. having trouble with uploading images...google/wiki USS West Mahomet for an interesting sample