Must all Cape Dory's be white?

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Aug 23rd, '09, 07:53

I don't think the real question about affecting value has as much to do with color as the fact that the hull is painted.

This is only on a personal basis. I would much rather have a boat with the original gel coat in good condition than a boat that had been painted. I could continue to maintain the gel coat with little expense. If the hull is painted it seems like it is only a matter of time until it needs another very expensive paint job.

If a hull is painted other that the color of the gel coat then any little scratch is definitely going to show.

With that said, those dark hulls are absolutely beautiful. Hinckly is doing a whole palette of rather strange hues. Island Packets always look kind of pale flesh colored. Those absolutely beautiful varnished wooden hulls you once saw are becoming a thing only to be seen in museum displays.

It's your boat so you can paint it whatever color pleases you, Steve.

Jeff Barnes · Post by **Jeff Barnes** » Aug 23rd, '09, 19:38

Hopefully the last thing that affects a CD's value is color, since I have a non-white CD36. Plus, I have never seen any CD owner choose a color that is unappealing or takes away anything from the classic CD styling.

Jeff

<a href="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... .jpg"><img width="600" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... 3.jpg"></a>

Tom in Cambria · Post by **Tom in Cambria** » Aug 23rd, '09, 20:31

I don't think the color of a boat affects the value at all unless you happen to pick a color that most people don't like. I've never seen a pink boat, and I never hope to see one, but even then I'd just make an offer based on the idea I'd have to change the color. Might lower the price very slightly, but a minor factor if everything else was right.

Personally I like the looks of a black hull, but they do show all the spots and it's a job to keep them looking nice. No problem if you've got the time, energy, and resources to keep them up. They say most pickup trucks are either white or silver because they don't tend to show the dirt. Road dirt is usually gray or brown and really shows up against a black truck, but white or silver tends to hide gray or tan. Still I think Ford was right that nothing looks better than a black vehicle if it's clean and shiny.

Troy Scott · Post by **Troy Scott** » Aug 23rd, '09, 23:27

I know that practically speaking I should just polish the gelcoat hull and enjoy it. But in my heart I want my CD36 to be flag blue. I just feel that the time is right, and I'm going to do it.

Ron M. · Post by **Ron M.** » Aug 24th, '09, 06:55

Troy,
Are you going to paint the boat yourself or have it done 'professionally '?
Decided on type/brand of paint ? method of application ?
I painted the entire topsides a few years ago. Preparation seemed to take forever. The actual painting was the easy part.
if you undertake the project yourself, follow mfg's directions, take your time, you will achieve outstanding results and save a bundle.
I'm seriously considering doing the hull, I can't decide what color.
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MERCEDES-BENZ 600 (DISAMBIGUATION) HISTORY

Troy Scott · Post by **Troy Scott** » Aug 24th, '09, 22:38

Ron,

Probably Interlux Perfection. I have done some spraying before, with reasonable success. I have also done some roll-and-tip work. I can do it inside, so that should help. Another option is to have a more qualified friend spray it, in which case I would defer to his choice of which particular brand of catalyzed LPU paint.

WRT colors, I'm sold on a combination that seems most popular in Downeast Maine: flag blue topsides/ white deck/ cream nonskid/ varnished brightwork/ polished bronze and mint green bottom. The prettiest boat's I've seen are the ones with traditional lines and these colors. This has become a popular combination, so it is entirely possible that it will become common. However, I live in the Deep South, and I doubt it will become common HERE.

Ron M. · Post by **Ron M.** » Aug 25th, '09, 07:25

I used Perfection on my spars. The Interlux system for aluminum with wash, primer and topcoat seems to have worked well since I did it 3 years ago. It was much less finiky than Awlgrip to apply. Although they don't have as wide an array of color choices. I sprayed it on and have been pleased with the effort. Indoors ......should be a piece of cake.
good luck
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SUZUKI RM SERIES SPECIFICATIONS

Jeff Barnes · Post by **Jeff Barnes** » Aug 26th, '09, 07:24

Folks,

I have Awlgrip on my hull and, like Ron, Perfection on my spars. After the usual prep, (meatl wash and epoxy primer), I sprayed the mast and rolled/tipped the boom. Perfection levels out remarkably well and I can't tell the difference in the results between the two techniques. Rolling is also a little less of a health hazard and doesn't rquire lots of protection. the Awlgrip ha been fabulous on the hull. I continue to to use Awlwash regularly and Awlcare once a year. On its 6 th year now, and looks new.

Jeff

tartansailor · Post by **tartansailor** » Aug 26th, '09, 17:42

When freshly finished, the darker the hull, the more defects in the molding operation show up, hence a need for fairing.

Dick

Troy Scott · Post by **Troy Scott** » Aug 26th, '09, 21:24

Dick,

"Fairing" is my middle name.

tartansailor · Post by **tartansailor** » Aug 27th, '09, 04:36

Hi Troy,
Flag Blue is my favorite color also.

<a href="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j19/t ... .jpg"><img width="600" src="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j19/t ... 9.jpg"></a>

Troy Scott · Post by **Troy Scott** » Aug 27th, '09, 08:26

Dick, Now there's proof that a modern boat can look good. They don't HAVE to be ugly....

Maine Sail · Post by **Maine Sail** » Aug 27th, '09, 12:35

Having had a dark blue hull we decided against this time around. It shows everything, like dried salt, and is a bear to keep clean. This time around we went with Stars & Stripes blue and we get way more compliments on this color than any we've had. People actually row out of their way to ask what the boat and color is..

<a href="http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/imag ... .jpg"><img width="600" src="http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/imag ... 6.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/imag ... .jpg"><img width="600" src="http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/imag ... 9.jpg"></a>

Troy Scott · Post by **Troy Scott** » Aug 27th, '09, 20:55

MS,

That is a beautiful paint job. While the color looks great on the CS-36T, I can't quite feature it on a CD36. There is that one CD36 I've seen in a beautiful deep aqua color, almost emerald. That may be a good compromise between the robin's egg blue (which may be better at hiding dirt) and the flag blue (which would always need to be clean).

Maine Sail · Post by **Maine Sail** » Aug 27th, '09, 22:14

Troy,

I think the CD-36 looks mighty good in Stars & Stripes Blue, not to mention unique, when compared to flag blue..

I knew I had a photo of one in my database and finally found it. With 70,000+ boating photos I sometimes loose track of when or where I took a photo...

When: Sept 2004
Where: Seal Bay Vinalhaven Island, ME

The Cape Dory Board

Must all Cape Dory's be white?

Reply

paint? or polish the white gelcoat

DYI ?

The Darker the Hull:

fairing

Flag Blue

nice looking modern boat

Having had a dark blue hull

compromise color?

Troy....