hull paint color

[sscoville]

The area where I intend to sail my boat is mostly brackish water.  I was going to paint the hull white, however, I am concerned that this will take on the inevitable dirty brown very quickly.  Anyone have any insight on what color would hide the staining best?

[Hirilonde]

The most forgiving color according to carpet experts is reddish brown.  I would be never behappy with that.  If you use a reasonably hard shiny paint it will clean easily.  This would mean almost anything would come clean.  Off-white is a good alternative for those who like white, but want something a little more forgiving.

Then again, you could listen to the advice of one of the wooden boat geniuses of all time:

There are only two colors to paint a boat, black or white, and only a fool would paint a boat black.

-Nathanael G. Herreshoff

Or you could just pick a color you like, because if you don't like how it looks, you won't like it clean or dirty.

[ecgossett]

Being in the St. Mary's river which empties the Okephonkee Swamp we have some very blackish water. Some of the cleaner looking boats are painted dark red, regular (royal) red, or dark blue. Other wise some of the boats painted a almost brownish/yellow white blend in very well. I have noticed waxing the boat with a good 3M Marine Wax keeps the dirt off for a couple of trips.

[Ken_Potts]

  If you paint it yellow and leave it in the water for a while you won't have to paint a boot-stripe  :cool:

  Just kidding - Nobody in their right mind would paint a yacht yellow.

[sscoville]

I would like to paint it white all over, masts and all, with some red or dark red accent stripes - maybe a boot stripe and one near the sheerline.  If it gets too dirty, put fresh paint on it.  Have any experience with white white, as opposed to off white?  I was told to avoid white white inside because of the glare it will cause.  I like the way it looks, however.

[sscoville]

[Hirilonde]

I was told to avoid white white inside because of the glare it will cause. 

In regards to decks this is good advice.  But the hull won't be glaring in your eyes.