We love the visually textured finish of bare aluminum. The way light plays on the surface presents an ever changing canvas, never boring, always something a little different, elegant in an understated way. But if you are new to the look it can take a while to fall in love with the appearance (it is much easier to become enamored with the wonderful benefits). Almost everyone likes the shiny new finish. The issue, if there is one, comes as the aluminum goes through a natural aging process, and the shine dulls. The profile view of the FPB 115, above, has its surface finish picked up from a photograph of Wind Horse when she was just launched. We have other versions following with a paint job for comparison.
There are systems to preserve the shine. But of course these have to be maintained, and if you are cruising in challenging environments, odds are a polish and resealing will be required every year or two (at a fraction of the cost of a conventional paint job to keep up appearances.
Lest you think we exaggerate here is the new Wind Horse in her shiny glory.
For comparison now an off white paint job.
Then a “metallic” grey paint job.
How about bronze?
Finally, to demonstrate how in vogue today is this aluminum look, a couple of photos from our 2010 visit to the Balearic Islands with Wind Horse.
This metallic grey mega yacht was probably the coolest looker of the summer in the power boat class. She is part of the Dolce and Gabbana fashion empire, which means (if you don’t already know) the height of cool.
The D and G fashion designers were obviously envious of our textured aluminum finish. Why else would they have installed all those faceted mirrors on the aft deck?
For a progressive look at how Wind Horse’s aluminum has aged click here. And photos of her topsides after buffing in 2009 here.
Posted by Steve Dashew (October 18, 2011)
October 19th, 2011 at 3:08 am
To my eye, that D&G boat is one of the nicer-looking mega-yachts, but it’s still a floating condo… I much prefer Wind Horse. Reading about the difficulties of handling the paints required to get a nice finish (e.g. here: http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/technical-discussion/13743-hull-paint-alexseal-awlgrip.html) would certainly make me go for the bare Al look.
One thing that struck me looking at the older post about putting her back in the water in England was the picture of the two workers on and alongside her: https://setsail.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/launch_mar_09-4.jpg
All my experience is on smaller boats – mostly 25′-30′ sailboats, largest I’ve spent any significant time on was a J/36. So that closeup of Wind Horse is really the first time I’ve had a good sense of the scale of the house, the lifelines, the topsides… I’d love to see more closeups on future posts (although I know it’s hard when you’re aboard.)
October 19th, 2011 at 9:46 am
IMO you lose character when you go to the yacht look. You definately send a different message.
You also lose stealth.
October 19th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Hi Steve
Have you ever considered ‘Nyalic’ clear coat?
It is used a lot on Ali Crayfish boats in Australia and New Zealand.
Best of both worlds Aluminium look but no ozidisation!
Great website.
Thanks
Boyd
October 20th, 2011 at 11:42 am
To paint or not to paint is just a matter of how many times you want to do it? I would imagine 5 years is the max that the paint will hold on to the aluminum. Then it is a quick slide downhill. It is not a cheap nor particularly easy job to do and my preference, if it has not be inferred, is to leave it raw. Enjoy the material for what it is.
October 20th, 2011 at 10:39 pm
Actually, Victor, if done properly the basic paint system will adhere for as much as 25 years, although not always. Interlude, launched 25 years ago, is just now having a major repaint.
October 21st, 2011 at 4:45 am
another option which hasnt been mentioned, one that is becoming more popular with alloy trailer boats in new zealand, is to have a vinyl ‘wrap’ put on. these are fast to apply, typically have a 10year colour fast warranty and are straight forward to remove when time for replacement comes.
these have become more popular as people have realised the expense involved with a quality paint job over alloy, and the shortcomings of the ‘nyalic’ application – namely its susceptibility to solvents such as petrol and even some sunscreens.
whilst a vinyl wrap might not scale to fpb115 size, it could be used on selected parts – perhaps the flybridge for instance – as a highlight to break up the one grey colour.
October 21st, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for the vinyl wrap suggestion Marcus:
DO you have any vendors with whom we might chat?
October 21st, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Hi Steve,
Have you ever thought about a glass bead blast finish? The yard I work at has done quite a number of boats like this and it gives a matte grey appearance. Here’s a link to one of our boats with the glass bead finish. http://metalcraftmarine.com/images/hover/RE_354491854.jpg
As you mentioned, a properly applied paint finish can last for decades. My own boat’s aluminum hull built in 1962 still had original exterior coatings on it until 2007. It’s one thing to prep and paint a new vessel as it is done as part of the build cycle, but re-finishing a vessel years later is a wholly different matter. (especially if you are going for a “yacht grade” finish) When I reluctantly re-painted my 50′ boat it took weeks to do, over $20K and I only wanted a “workboat” grade of finish so that I wouldn’t be constantly worrying about my topsides being damaged.
Less paint is definitely the way to go for an aluminum vessel if it will work the overall design.
Cheers,
David
Cheers,
David
October 21st, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Hi David:
When we first did Sundeer’s hull it was glass bead blasted. Then on the truck trip between the metal fabricators and t he fitting out yard it was kissed by a tree limb, leaving a slight scar on the hull and in my psyche, as I realized there was no way to repair a scar short of reblasting, which would never match properly. So we ordered several cases of Scotchbrite and went with a ground finish. As it t urns out, the textured ground finish was more appealing to us.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:15 pm
you might like to start with – http://www.boatwrap.co.nz – opua based, so reasonably close to the Circa guys.
many of the vinyl wrap companies started doing alloy boats as an extension to their automotive signwriting business – so you might pick up some leads from there
October 22nd, 2011 at 9:35 am
I’ve used a local 3M dealer for large scale graphics/detailing.
Check out the 3M website.
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Graphics/Scotchprint/Solutions/Applications/Fleet-Vehicle/
cheers,
David
October 25th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
How about doing an “engine-turned” pattern using a larger diameter Scotch-Brite pad? Fish scale effect if done right?
October 26th, 2011 at 3:51 am
the problem, Frank,are the inevitable scrapes,fender marks,etc. But if you are willing to accept that this is certainly possible.
October 26th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
There is a product in the pontoon world called Sharkhide. Don’t know how well it stands up to saltwater but it gives a bright, easy and long lasting look in fresh.
Is windhorse bottom painted for barnacle prevention etc?
October 26th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Hi John:
Yes, the bottoms of all our bare aluminum hulls are painted with antifouling.
November 8th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
You’ve been busted!
The November issue of Show Boats International has the FB115 as a half page article with a profile view picture. No more stealth.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Would be interested to see a picture of the FPB115 with orange superstructure and dark blue hull – think it would go with the overall “Work Boat” type image.
December 21st, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Personally, I prefer the look of aluminum after it has developed the oxide layer. The polished aluminum makes me feel naked with the bare metal exposed. Aesthetically, I find the polished or new aluminum to be too harsh on the eye. Too much gleaming metal feels out of balance.
Sitting from the outside looking in, I’d say if someone wants a painted showpiece yacht, there are plenty of manufacturers that do that already. You’ve carved a niche market by following principles of form following function and designing no-nonsense vessels for no-nonsense sailors. I don’t imagine that the things that have made your designs successful over the last decades would change just because you’re talking about a larger boat. That’s not to say that your boats aren’t showpieces in their own right, but you must admit that their aesthetic falls outside the norm. Perhaps being outside the norm is precisely why some folks are attracted to your designs.
One perk of the aged aluminum is that, to most eyes in places like the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, she’ll appear to be a war vessel. You were even able to convince the coast guard in Mexico to come get a closer look at Windhorse, were you not? With the ever increasing frequency of pirate attacks, that is a very effective passive deterrent. Being big enough that she can keep up with the naval escort patrols through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden sure doesn’t hurt either.
Certainly, you can offer a painted/sealed option, but I would keep it as an option. Of the painted renderings, I like the bronze one best.