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I scrubbed my bilge this week and prepped it for paint. It's currently painted with a light gray paint. Does anyone have a good recommendation for a bilge paint?

Thanks,

JR

I used Bilgecoat, but when I rebuilt one engine I used POR15 Whitecoat. I think they call it something else now, but it makes a nice hard gloss white finish. I am very satisfied with it.

When I was doing mine, which had never been painted, I asked the Interlux rep at a show for a recommendation. I was worried about it peeling off, especially in the center where the bilge water lays. He said use the 2000E barrier coat product they make to coat the hull bottom. I did, and after 7 years it still looks great. I used the grey, and in places I did touch up after a few years it matches perfectly.

I didn’t do it but previous owner used white gel coat and it’s held up great.
Only issue if you don’t keep it totally clean you’ll know it.

Guys,

Thanks for the suggestions. It looks like it will be somewhere between $75 and $150 per gallon depending on what I go with. I was reading about the POR-15 and it looks like it’s used on metal to prevent rust, but will make a good bilge paint as well. I’ll check into colors, but my current bilge paint is a very light gray color. Any suggestions for bilge paint color? I kind of like the gel coat idea, but white will show every bit of dirt/oil.

JR

Jack: I honestly like the gloss white. It is easy to keep clean and as slick as glass. I feel like the light gray part that I did with Bilgecoat is stained and dirty. Get a small can of the POR 15 and try it out in a spot. It is not supposed to have any pores to allow it to stain. This is the link to the current product. It used to be called "Hardnose paint". It is a topcoat, not the rust blocking coat, although you could use that as well. They used to push this paint for lining industrial holding tanks, but I guess the margins on sales to the consumer are better.

https://www.por15.com/POR-15-2k-Industrial-Urethane

I use it to paint all of my trucks oil pans. So far, I've never had to repaint, or had one run out. Even on the plow vehicle.

Late response, but if you haven’t painted the bilge yet.. PPG Americoat 385.
2 part marine/ industrial epoxy tank coating. Immersion rated.. easy to use and very tough. 2 gallon kit is around $100 bucks. Very good stuff, comes in several colors. Roll on or brush on, cut with Xylene if you want to thin it.

Thanks for all of the advice! I'm still doing a bit of research, but I'll post here what I end up using and how it works out.

JR

I tried getting some of the better bilge paints such as the one Scott mentioned as well as sherwin williams tile clad but due to the laws in the great state of MA I couldn't purchase any of them.

from there I made a huge mistake and purchased jamestown distributors bilge paint which never cured out - spent 50 + hours removing and sanding.

I ended up with Interlux Bilgecote and it seemed to lay down and cure out fine, I have no idea how well it will hold up

the pic below is after 3 coats of interlux
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jgceAeU6DgDe7oBy5

ktm_2000 wrote: I have no idea how well it will hold up

the pic below is after 3 coats of interlux
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jgceAeU6DgDe7oBy5

I hope it holds up great as I am pretty sure that is what I used on mine....although its not half as purdy as yours. Pretty sure it was two coats for me.

just so you don't think I spent 50hrs on the old motor well, here's the extent of what got faired / painted under the deck
overall view
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bd7RxoDjXb5dQMJD9

view into battery box
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vGupXdHWVNMbu51X9

fishboxes - forward section
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wRiEkb9n8tcEYHrW6

How the deck will layout and access into the bilge, from back, bomar hatch into old motor well, mid-boat bomar hatch into battry box, forward, cut down old fuel tank hatch into fish boxes.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/86zKZt8mWPBpXRE96

Wow thats a project!

Looking good, real good.

I've used Bilgekoat a few times. Its easy to work with and does the job. I tried a 2-part epoxy garage type paint once on a recommendation. Fumes were incredible, it was difficult to work with, and didn't hold up any better than Bilgekoat.