PRACTICAL
Beneath the
flawless façade...
The high gloss external finish on a superyacht is usually hand applied
by a team of time-served experts. But is it possible to paint like a pro
and avoid the six-figure bill? Jake Kavanagh finds out
P
ainting the sides of a
superyacht involves a high
level of expertise followed by
an eye-watering invoice. A team
of up to 15 skilled painters work their
way down the hull with synchronised
spray guns to achieve a finish that is
almost flawless.
I say ‘almost’ because painting an area
the size of two tennis courts (or more) in
one fluid movement (literally) does carry a
high risk of contamination. Somehow,
though, the experts seem to pull it off,
helped by some fairly basic precautions
and a range of top class paints.
Fortunately, the professional two-pack
polyurethanes they are using are also
widely available to the boating public,
either through a distributor or on the
shelves of your local chandlery. Boaters
with a bit of DIY skill are harnessing these
products for impressive results.
The following are the experts' top ten tips
to paint like a pro.Former PBO Practicals Editor Jake
Kavanagh has travelled the world
investigating build techniques in
production yards and superyachts.
He reckons PBO readers are potential
superyacht owners themselves –
they love to make their yachts more
efficient, better looking and more fun
to use, but haven’t won the lottery
yet. He’s trying to turn his own ferro-
cement 39-footer into a Hallberg-Rassy.ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Superyacht paints
such as Jotun’s
Megagloss are
increasingly being
used on Britain’s
narrowboats,
as they can be
DIY applied by
brush and roller.
The ultra-tough
finish is ideal for
surviving locksThe secret to a go
finis od^
h is preparation a
foll nd^
owing painting
instructions to
the letterPAINT
FINISHRichard^H
ayw
ard/A
la
my