What color can a boat be?

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ITHURTZ

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Hi sorry if this is a dumb question, but I dont know very much about boats. I live in Illinois and was wondering can a boat be painted any color, or is there certain colors that must make the boat visible?
 
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bassman284

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Re: What color can a boat be?

I'm no authority, but I've seen boats in enough different colors to think there is no particluar requirement.
 
DaNinja

DaNinja

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Re: What color can a boat be?

No requirement. Didn't Wonder Woman have an invisible boat? That may be unwise, but not illegal, as long as she was visible.
 
DaNinja

DaNinja

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Re: What color can a boat be?

ITHURTZ said:
Hi sorry if this is a dumb question, but I dont know very much about boats. I live in Illinois and was wondering can a boat be painted any color, or is there certain colors that must make the boat visible?
Click to expand...

Would you like to see the boats of Lake of The Ozarks?
 
J

JimJam

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Re: What color can a boat be?

I read somewhere that a blue boat won't catch fish. I think that was in "The Hungry Ocean" or "The Boat That Wouldn't Float"; both great books.
 
5150abf

5150abf

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Re: What color can a boat be?

Ya, anything you can think of is fine, there are of coarse rules on the water but boat color isn't one of them.
 
proshadetree

proshadetree

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Re: What color can a boat be?

Yes there is no pink with green, its nasty.
 
sasto

sasto

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Re: What color can a boat be?

When traveling down the Mississippi or the Tenn-Tom I encountered a few camouflaged hunting boats tied to shore. I didn't see till upon them with my 3 foot wake. Suprised I didn't get shot at.
 
Philster

Philster

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Re: What color can a boat be?

White is easiest to care for. Since gel coats and paint can oxidize to a white haze far too often, most white boats are more forgiving if the gel/paint isn't perfect. White haze on white paint = no big deal.

Now, if you want grief, the darker colors are the way to go.

As for rules: Lettering/numbers (registration) needs to contrast with the boat so they can be read.
 
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Brewman61

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Jun 10, 2010
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Re: What color can a boat be?

sasto said:
When traveling down the Mississippi or the Tenn-Tom I encountered a few camouflaged hunting boats tied to shore. I didn't see till upon them with my 3 foot wake. Suprised I didn't get shot at.
Click to expand...

Good thing your boat wasn't painted duck color!
 
QC

QC

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Re: What color can a boat be?

Personally I think all boats should be white with blue trim, but that is due to the white being easy to care for as Phil notes, and the blue doesn't fade.

I think anyone with an all black boat is a fool (sorry if you are that guy). I do, however, boat where anything is possible:

watermark.php
 
'96 Charger

'96 Charger

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Re: What color can a boat be?

In the summer a white top cap will be cooler. And of course while there's nothing classier than a white hull with tasteful accents from a standard color like blue, black, red, maroon, green, etc one of the prettiest boats I've ever seen was black and purple. Could have just been because it was all shined up for a boat show and flourescent lights makes almost everything look better than it really does:p
 
Ned L

Ned L

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Re: What color can a boat be?

"The Boat Who Wouldn't Float" Eh? -- Yes, good book by Farley Mowat. I'm thinking that a reference in there would have been that blue is bad luck (kind of related to not catching fish). - In Down East Maine blue is considered bad luck on a fishing boat. Years ago when I was working in a shipyard building commercial fishing boats, we were building one for a guy from Maine, he refused to let the boat be taken out on sea trials until the water tight door to the engine room (still in factory blue primer) was painted a different color. No blue to be on his boat!
No there are no restrictions on color.
 
Fireman431

Fireman431

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Re: What color can a boat be?

Wanna bet there no restrictions on boat colors? Try painting your boat one of these colors and see if you don't get in trouble...

White with a red diagonal stripe from the bow to the waterline...



White with green accent stripes...


White with a pretty blue stripe...

:D
 

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S

shrew

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Re: What color can a boat be?

Fireman431 said:
Wanna bet there no restrictions on boat colors? Try painting your boat one of these colors and see if you don't get in trouble...

White with a red diagonal stripe from the bow to the waterline...



White with green accent stripes...


White with a pretty blue stripe...

:D
Click to expand...

Seatow just won a court case where it has been established that no other towing or salvage company can use the Seatow yellow as well. NOT, boats can't be yellow. That Tow/Salvage companies cannot use the Seatow yellow.
 
I

ITHURTZ

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Re: What color can a boat be?

Good to hear. Another question, well 2. Does the paint specifically need to be for a boat, or could I use a hd car paint with clear coat?

Also I dont wanna start another thread being new, so when I make my custom windshield is there a height requirement, certain thickness for plexiglass, glass. Can I use plate glass, tempered, or does it have to be safety glass?
 
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