By Tom Burden, Last updated: 4/23/2024
Approximate amount of paint needed for two coats of boat paint
| Boat Type | Bottom Paint | Topside | Topside Polyureathane | Enamel | Waterline | Deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10' Dinghy | 1 qt. | 1 qt. | 1 qt. | |||
| 14' Outboard | 1-2 qt. | 1 qt. | 1 qt | 1 pt. | ||
| 18' Runabout | 2 qt. | 1 qt. | 2 qt | 1 pt.. | 1 qt. | |
| 20' Sailboat | 3 qt. | 2 qt. | 2 qt | 1 pt.. | 1 qt. | |
| 24' Runabout | 3-4 qt. | 2 qt. | 2 qt | 1 pt. | 1 qt. | |
| 30' Sailboat | 1.5 gal. | 3 qt | 1 gal. | 1 pt. | 2 qt | 2 qt. |
| 32' Cruiser | 1.5-2 gal. | 3 qt | 1 gal. | 1 pt. | 2 qt | 2 qt. |
| 36' Auxiliary | 2 gal. | 5 qt | 2 gal. | 1 pt. | 1 gal. | 3 qt. |
| 40' Cruiser | 2.5 gal. | 6 qt | 2.5 gal. | 2 pt. | 1.5 gal. | 1 gal. |
| 45' Sailboat | 3-3.5 gal | 8 qt | 3 gal. | 3 pt. | 2 gal. | 1 gal. |
| 50' Sportfisher | 4+ gal. | 8 qt | 3 gal. | 4 pt. | 2.5 gal. | 1 gal. |
Bottom Shield is designed for easy application and clean up making it a great bottom paint for DIYers.
Another way to determine how much bottom paint you need to paint your boat is to estimate the approximate surface area of the hull below the waterline. The formula below works as an easy bottom paint calculator and all you need to know is your boat's length, the distance from bow to stern, and beam, the distance from side to side at the widest part of the boat.
Length x Beam x .75 = Approximate Underwater Surface Area in Sq. Ft.
Each paint has a "theoretical coverage" area, but most paints require at least two coats, so make sure to factor that in when determining how many quarts or gallons of paint you will need to paint your boat.
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