Barge Paints

Our barge and narrowboat paints are a single-pack polyurethane enamel made to handle canals, rivers and coastal work. It forms a flexible film that helps stop cracking and peeling, giving good chemical and UV resistance.

Our barge and narrowboat coatings can be applied by brush, roller or spray once the surface has been properly prepared. They dry to a hard-wearing finish that holds up well against moisture, regular water exposure and day-to-day wear on marine vessels. We also supply a full range of marine primers for boats and barges, giving you the right base layer for steel, aluminium, GRP and timber before applying your topcoat.

Need help with colour matching, quantities or technical data? Browse the narrowboat and barge range or contact us at TA Paints for practical advice and fast nationwide delivery.  

FAQs

What paint can I use on a narrowboat?

The best paint to use on a narrow boat is either a Single-pack top coat or Two-pack epoxy top coats. Two-pack epoxy paints offer excellent protection against water, abrasion and general wear, making them ideal for areas requiring maximum durability on narrowboats. However, epoxy coatings are not UV resistant, so when being used above water line colours will chalk and fade.

Single-pack paints, while not as hard-wearing as two-pack epoxies, still provide good overall protection and are UV resistant. Their UV-resistance helps their colours remain bright and stable for longer when used on exposed areas of a narrowboat.

If you are painting wood, we would recommend using a single-pack topcoat as it does not crack with the expansion and contraction of the wood, unlike an epoxy coating. Important note:Two-pack epoxy non-slip paint can only be applied over existing epoxy coatings, as it will attack single-pack paints. 

What is the best primer to use under barge paint?

The best primer to use under barge paint is a Two Pack Epoxy Primer for below the waterline. These primers are suitable for bare metal or fibreglass/GRP as single pack paints can soften below the waterline if in the water for too long. 

What colours and finishes are available for barge paint?

Our stock of barge paint comes in a high gloss finish in a select range of BS and RAL colours. However, we do offer made to order finishes and all colours from the BS 4800, BS 381C and RAL classic colours which are available in gloss, semi-gloss and matte.