{"id":606,"date":"2013-01-18T10:55:13","date_gmt":"2013-01-18T15:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/?p=606"},"modified":"2026-02-10T11:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T16:13:17","slug":"topside-boat-paint-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/topside-paint-how-to\/topside-boat-paint-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Topside Boat Paint Options: What are your choices?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"post-updated\"><strong>Last Updated: February 9, 2026<\/strong><!--?php echo get_the_modified_date('F j, Y'); ?--><\/p>\n<p><!-- Quick Recommendation Box: Topside Boat Paint Options --><\/p>\n<div class=\"bps-quick-reco\" style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e5e5; border-left: 6px solid #0a6fb5; background: #f8fbff; padding: 16px 18px; margin: 14px 0 22px; border-radius: 8px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 8px; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: .06em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #0a6fb5; font-weight: bold;\">Quick Recommendation<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"margin: 0 0 10px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.25;\">Topside Boat Paint Options: What Should You Choose?<\/h2>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0; padding-left: 18px; line-height: 1.6;\">\n<li><strong>Single-part polyurethane:<\/strong> Best for <strong>DIY projects<\/strong> and easier application with good durability and gloss.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Two-part polyurethane:<\/strong> Ideal for <strong>maximum durability, color retention, and gloss<\/strong> on high-visibility areas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Marine enamel:<\/strong> A budget-friendly option for <strong>light-duty or temporary refinishing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bottom line:<\/strong> Choose topside paint based on <strong>application difficulty, durability needs, and desired finish quality<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"margin: 12px 0 0; color: #555; line-height: 1.5;\"><strong>Tip:<\/strong> Topside paints are not antifouling\u2014boats kept in the water still need bottom paint below the waterline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2277 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mega-Gloss-500x539-1-278x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"142\" height=\"153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mega-Gloss-500x539-1-278x300.jpg 278w, https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mega-Gloss-500x539-1.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 142px) 100vw, 142px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">There are many different topside boat paints and qualities, generally, the more you spend the better the results. See the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/bottom-paint\/how-to-choose-the-right-bottom-paint-for-my-boat\/\">below the waterline paints<\/a> for water exposure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blue-water-marine-mega-gloss-polyurethane-gallon-p-33296.html?search=mega%20gloss&amp;description=true&amp;sort=relevance&amp;order=DESC\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Blue Water Mega Gloss<\/span> <\/strong><\/a><\/span>is affordable and easy to apply and only recommended for above the waterline only. This topside paint works best in very thin coats; see the prep recommendations found on the product page on the \u201chow to use\u201d tab and if the <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blue-water-marine-mega-gloss-polyurethane-primer-p-33297.html\">Blue Water Mega Gloss Primer<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>is needed.<\/p>\n<p>Popular color options can also be found with the<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/topside-boat-paint-marine-enamels-c-13630_13646.html\/interlux-brightside-polyurethane-p-28238.html\"> Interlux Brightside<\/a>,<\/strong> <\/span>commonly used for topside gloss surfaces with moderate water exposure. Also,<strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/topside-boat-paint-marine-enamels-c-13630_13646.html\/Interdeck-Nonskid-Deck-Paint\"> Interdeck<\/a><\/span><\/strong> white paint with added non-skid is perfect for a white slip-resistant deck.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/index.php?route=product\/search&amp;search=duralux&amp;description=true&amp;sort=relevance&amp;order=DESC\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Duralux<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> offers some <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/topside-boat-paint-camouflage-boat-paint-c-13630_13691.html\">camo paints<\/a><\/span> as well as the high gloss <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/topside-boat-paint-marine-enamels-c-13630_13646.html\">marine enamel<\/a><\/span> option. For use on aluminum and wood, a primer is recommended for the best adhesion.<\/p>\n<p>In flat paint\/primer in one option, you&#8217;ll find the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/topside-boat-paint-aluminum-boat-paint-c-13630_14141.html\/aluma-hawk-boat-paint-by-sea-hawk-paints-p-28288.html\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Aluma Hawk<\/span><\/strong><\/a>. This is extremely popular for hunting and fishing boats and easy of use in white, blue, sand, aluminum <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1339 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/aluma-hawk-boat-paint-by-sea-hawk-paints-28288-1000x1078-278x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"192\" \/>gray, Jon boat green, and black.<\/p>\n<p>The best available boat paint for the topside with the best finish is <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/how-to\/awlgrip-paint-topside-boat-paint\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Awlgrip<\/span><\/a>,<\/span><\/strong> most expensive but best results and loved by customers. Some of the Awlgrip paints can be brushed or rolled but others must be sprayed.\u00a0 Awlgrip marine paint also requires a little more &#8220;do it yourself savvy&#8221; to apply these paints, and require the correct activators and reducers when applying. The manufacturer of Awlgrip recommends it for use only above the waterline and by professionals.<\/p>\n<p>Your topside boat paint\u00a0choice depends on your budget, the durability needed and\u00a0the amount of time you want to spend on your boat paint application.<\/p>\n<p>Most of the paints above do exceptionally well with brush and roller application. Be sure to choose a solvent-resistant, high density closed cell size foam roller. This minimizes the formation of bubbles in the surface that can happen with mohair or large cell foam rollers. These paints typically do better with thinner application and more coats may be needed. Using this method is commonly referred to as the roll and tip method and works well when two painters work side by side.<\/p>\n<p>When applying by brush use the largest brush that is practical for your job. Long flexible bristles are best for gloss paints and holding the brush at a 45-degree angle minimizes brush marks with an even spread. A disposable foam brush is favored for small touch-up jobs.<\/p>\n<p>Paint application tips:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clean or change brushes every 20 minutes<\/li>\n<li>Stir the can during work<\/li>\n<li>Paint on warm, dry mornings as cold weather retards drying and dampness will spoil the gloss.<\/li>\n<li>Use a worn brush for the final coat for fewer brush marks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"http:\/\/w.sharethis.com\/widget\/?wp=6.9.7\"><\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated: February 9, 2026 Quick Recommendation Topside Boat Paint Options: What Should You Choose? Single-part polyurethane: Best for DIY projects and easier application with good durability and gloss. Two-part polyurethane: Ideal for maximum durability, color retention, and gloss on high-visibility areas. Marine enamel: A budget-friendly option for light-duty or temporary refinishing. Bottom line: Choose [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[266,127,118],"tags":[222,224,221,223],"class_list":["post-606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-awlgrip","category-frequently-asked-questions","category-topside-paint-how-to","tag-best-topside-boat-paint","tag-topisde-paint-options","tag-topside-boat-paint","tag-types-of-boat-paint"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=606"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4165,"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/606\/revisions\/4165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bottompaintstore.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}