Painting a small area

[syndad]

I have to make a repair above the waterline on my fiberglass sailboat, approx area 1 foot diameter. I don't want to repaint the entire boat as the rest is fine. The problem is the current paint is Red and not original. Where can I get a small amount of paint and have it tinted to match my current paint?

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by syndad

I have to make a repair above the waterline on my fiberglass sailboat, approx area 1 foot diameter. I don't want to repaint the entire boat as the rest is fine. The problem is the current paint is Red and not original. Where can I get a small amount of paint and have it tinted to match my current paint?

hi syndad.

it might help us help you if you told us where in the world you are ?

this is an international forum and it might waste everyone's time to tell you about a really good painter in say majorca, if you are in say tonga.

cheers,

[syndad]

I live in eastern USA, North Carolina. But to be clear, I'm not looking to have someone paint it for me, I'm looking for a way to match the existing paint. Not sure if this is possible, maybe a professional needs to be onsite to properly match.

[Bill O]

Any idea what paint is that's on your hull? Does it have a clear coat?

While it's great that you want to take on the job yourself, how much experience do you have painting boats/cars and blending repairs? Red paint may be difficult to match if it's faded, etc.

[deltaten]

Just get a big vinyl sticker, like a smilie face, huge band-aid or sun flower, all as commonly seen on VW busses back in the 60's ? Perhaps come up with a boat "logo" to go along w/the name and have 2 stickers made....one for each side....camouflage, yanno!

Get it tinted to match now, in a year it won't....then what?

[bil56]

very very difficult to find a red (or blue or dark color) color after a few years,
a painter-coachbuilder equipped with a spectrophotometer would find the closest color ...

[Senojev]

I agree with Bil above, even if you can find someone who has a spectro, you will have get a custom mix of marine compatible paint which will not be easy. I like the idea of a boat decal😃

[chrisr]

this is one reason why so many boats are white

although it's still super hard to get it right, it's a lot easier to match colours and patch hulls in white...

cheers,