Black Hulls?

[Rohan]

This has been debated a lot - I spoke to one man who had brokered boats for many years and sailed everywhere, and he told me that the ambient temperature of the water affects heat inside the boat more than anything else, and that it would take so long for the sun on a dark hull to really make a difference that by the time it did, it would already be dipping below the horizon anyway. By that same token, that means you couldn't really count on it warming you up much in colder latitudes either.

In my limited experience in darker boats, either blue or green, I didn't notice any difference.

Regardless, I am sure that insulation has a big effect on this - with a bare hull, you would feel the heat a bit more.

My advice - get the boat you want! Don't let this be a factor unless you are evenly split between two boats with different colored hulls. You can always paint it.

[Steadman Uhlich]

You may enjoy reading many, many more comments on this same subject of "dark hulls" in the archived (previous) threads on that topic:

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=011403...ull&gsc.page=1

I am posting this since you wrote in your OP that you did not find anything when searching CF.

I will also send you (or anyone who wants to know) a PM with some tips on more effective searching of CF with the best easy method I have found and use myself.

[Jim Cate]

If you paint a white boat some darker colour, every single little scratch will show up like a neon sign... and in the real world, scratches happen.

Jim

[UNCIVILIZED]

In terms of heat, the last time this hull color topic came up (maybe 3 months back), the numbers showed that darker colored hulls absorb a good 50% more heat. Which to me is a lot. And common sense tells you the same about what's wise if you're trying to keep something cool. Regardless of whether it's a vertical surface or a horizontal one. As you're comparing apples to apples.

Besides, there's plenty of bite in the sun as it's rising, & when it's setting.

When properly applied, & well cared for, dark colors like Navy blue tend to look great. But how much upkeep do you want to do on her... from the dinghy, while leaning against her hot topsides? And fresh water will likely be needed in order to keep her looking sharp, so that washing & rinsing her doesn't leave salt stains when you're done. It's worth thinking on.

[barnakiel]

Yep there is an earlier thread. Search more.

We have a black hull (grp). We sailed the tropics. No problems.

Our boat has about 1/2 inch of homemade insulation on the topsides (eva foam sheets, EUR 10 per 10 ft sq). Our roof/cabin are foam sandwich. No teak, no threadmaster, just plain white cream gelcoat diamonds. Typical Scandinavian cheapo finish (same like Albins, Ifs, etc.)

Yes. It is likely somewhat warmer than a white hull.

Most heat comes thru the deck, not via the topsides. Tropical sun is nearly vertical. You want a white deck and some canvas over the cockpit too. Plenty of mosquito nets over the hatches and the companionway and the hatches big and wide open (at anchor, sure). No teak, no threadmaster, no colored painted decks, no steel and no alloy (unless painted white).

I would buy a black hull again. I would buy a white one too.

b.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by KetoNomad

Sorry if this is already a thread, I searched for it but couldn't find it

Strange, I clicked on Search in the menu bar and entered Black Hull in the Google Custom Search box and immediately found these threads on the first page of results:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ors-23481.html

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ea-171303.html

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...rue-47824.html

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by KetoNomad

Clorox bottle hahaha! Nice! Yeah most of the boats I've seen that don't sail regularly looked like crap. Ugh, I may have to get over being so lazy

Work once, stay lazy for quit a while:

Tips For A Great Buff Wax | SailboatOwners.com Forums

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

I will also send you (or anyone who wants to know) a PM with some tips on more effective searching of CF with the best easy method I have found and use myself.

SH, you should really get the mods to make this a sticky and just link to it. You provide a wonderful service to new folks and folks who can't or won't figure out how to do it. Keep up the great work.

[Painted Skies]

Originally Posted by Rohan

Regardless, I am sure that insulation has a big effect on this - with a bare hull, you would feel the heat a bit more.

I've cruised extensively over the past 20 years on both a light-hull (pale gray) and dark (navy)-hull boat in tropical waters.

As Rohan has pointed out... Just like a house, how hot the interior of the craft gets is primarily due to the level of insulation between the hull/deck and the interior. More insulation, less heat. In clear waters, even the color of your bottom paint can have an effect on interior temperatures.

Our current boat is has a flag blue hull, and yes, it does get perhaps a few degrees warmer for a couple of hours in the afternoon as the sun positions closer to the horizon. The rest of the day, the sun's rays are more directly hitting the deck and we have found that using a full-boat awning has reduced the interior heat by about 80%. This awning, to us, would be essential - regardless of the color of the hull. The design of the awning is also important because it needs to sit close enough to the deck to provide better coverage when the angle of the sun is lower - but also high enough to allow the breezes to reach the open hatches. Our dark Awlgrip-painted hull only gets 'waxed' once a year - it really is less work than the previous boat that had a light-tinted gel-coat finish.

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by Painted Skies

I've cruised extensively over the past 20 years on both a light-hull (pale gray) and dark (navy)-hull boat in tropical waters.

As Rohan has pointed out... Just like a house, how hot the interior of the craft gets is primarily due to the level of insulation between the hull/deck and the interior. More insulation, less heat. In clear waters, even the color of your bottom paint can have an effect on interior temperatures.

Our current boat is has a flag blue hull, and yes, it does get perhaps a few degrees warmer for a couple of hours in the afternoon as the sun positions closer to the horizon. The rest of the day, the sun's rays are more directly hitting the deck and we have found that using a full-boat awning has reduced the interior heat by about 80%. This awning, to us, would be essential - regardless of the color of the hull. The design of the awning is also important because it needs to sit close enough to the deck to provide better coverage when the angle of the sun is lower - but also high enough to allow the breezes to reach the open hatches. Our dark Awlgrip-painted hull only gets 'waxed' once a year - it really is less work than the previous boat that had a light-tinted gel-coat finish.

Great looking boat and canvas, but what's with the 16 jerry cans?

Matt

[Dave_S]

Hi

Interesting thread/s

I am just about to have our hulls wrapped in black. I considered heat soak and have asked for the wrap to stop short of the radius transition to the deck so the wrap will stop well short of the top.

I am sure the black will raise the temperature but not sure by how much. My hope is to control how much sun lands on the sides in the morning and afternoon so you can be warmer in winter and (optimistically) no different in summer.

Problems are you can't control your angle to the sun when sailing, at the marina or anchored in close proximity to other boats otherwise I think it will be Ok.

[KetoNomad]

Originally Posted by Revelations

We have just completed the re-spraying project of our yacht which was previously all white - now with black sides and white decks. We are quite happy with the result and thus far people tell us that they have not noticed any additional internal heat. You can read about it in the blog section of our website.

WOW! That's not so much a yacht as a piece of art that you can sail! What a beauty! Kind of reminds me of a grand piano with that glossy black and white contrast and graceful curves, must just make you smile to look at it

[Sea Dreaming]

Ketonomad,
The best looking boat in work yard last time we were there was black. Very striking. But I do think it can be more work. Money and work. I have none of one and avoid the other. But if you go tropical you may find you are too busy to sit inside anyway.

[KetoNomad]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Work once, stay lazy for quit a while:

Tips For A Great Buff Wax | SailboatOwners.com Forums

Hello fellow Islander! Those are some beautiful photos in that how-to page you linked, definitely worthwhile. I think given the difficulty of even finding an old folkboat on the BC coast I will probably take what I can get. If it's black then I will know what to do!

Thinking of drydocking the boat while I'm off working initially. The boat will go untouched and unseen for months at first because of my work so a good clean and polish/wax before putting in would be less of a hassle for me than most who keep their hulls wet year round

[KetoNomad]

Jeez this hull colour topic is a really black and white issue, hey? (Mar har har)

I suppose when the time comes to buy I will have to take what I can get. Hull colour can't really be a deal breaker where I live. I saw an Alberg 30 for sale the other day, tried to go see it when I was in the area but the seller didn't reply to my email until the next day and I was already en route to San Diego via Calgary by then so I tried to set up a viewing the next week and the boat was sold inside of five days! Jeez! Meanwhile on the Great lakes there seem to be a half dozen boats I like for sale cheap. I wonder if I can get a deal where one of my dropdeck hauling colleagues can trailer a boat and drive it out to the coast for cheaper. We don't have special boat hauling equipment but it can't hurt to ask. IIRC the guy I met with the steel sloop just hired a lowbed truck to haul his new home to the water.