Abstract
This paper will offer general guidance regarding preservation by liquid applied coatings to the owners and operators of coastal and inland working vessels. The paper will discuss both new construction and maintenance painting, and will offer suggested coating systems for the main areas of these vessels.
Thousands of tugboats, pushboats, barges, dredges, fishing boats, ferries, scows, and other working vessels sail the harbors, coastal areas and inland waterways of the world. Large corporations employing hundreds of mariners control many of these vessels. However, there are a large number of individuals with small companies that operate them as their sole source of income. To each of these owners the preservation of their equipment is one of the keys to profitability. The major difficulties facing them are finding the time and the money for the necessary maintenance. On areas above the waterline the crews typically perform maintenance during non-producing hours. This work is seldom planned very far in advance and is subject to interruption when the vessels use is required. Below the water line work is done during dry docking intervals made mandatory to meet insurance or governmental regulations or for other emergency hull work. Rarely is a working boat pulled out of the water just to repaint the bottom.
Working vessels are painted to protect them from corrosion, for safety, to enhance working conditions and to promote business by showing their company colors. Designing for corrosion control and timely maintenance are the two key factors in protecting your investment.
Why would you take time and spend hard earned money to paint your boat? Simply put if you do not the steel will rust away and the boat will become useless. Paint either provides a barrier on the steel, keeping the water from coming in contact with it, or by providing galvanic protection much as the anodes you may place on the bottom. Every single square inch of carbon steel on your vessel must be covered with a protective coating barrier or corrosion will start at that point and spread. It will start and spread faster on vessels in salt or brackish water, but even fresh water boats must be protected.
Barge on railway waiting for cleaning and painting
