Black hull side, maintanance nightmare?
 

I am in the market for a 23-24 CC for cursing and some nearshore fishing. I Found a decent deal on a used boat (seahunt, triton 24) but it has black hull sides from run rail down. It clean and polished but since it will be used 100% in Florida sun I worry the black will require more waxing and maintenance then I am used to. (Always had boats white with accents only). I am use it more than polish on the weekend type guy and put about 200hrs a year on a boat. Anyone ever have a dark color boat, any thoughts?

Unless the boat is kept out of the sun and overly maintained the red, blue and black hulls all look sorta chalky by seasons ends. The white hulls are the same but the oxidation doesn't show as much.

Mine is a 292 formula and the black is Imron, not gell. It is very easy to keep up with. It just needs to be wiped down after every use with a spray wax.

Black is an absolute maintenance nightmare - and even worse if you're in Florida. If the color is in the gelcoat, it will generally oxidize within a year or two - even if you keep after it. If the color is done in paint, it'll last a bit longer. And that's not even mentioning the somewhat more manageable issues of hard or salt water stains that will show like crazy. I'd be willing to bet that if the boat you looked at is used, it was carefully buffed out by the dealer already. And remember, once gelcoat has oxidized, you'll be buffing it constantly just to keep it looking acceptable. On the plus side, your boat will weigh less every year though!

Back around 1990 we owned an early 80’s Baja that was all black- at 10 plus years old the topside and deck were a SOB but the sides were pretty easy to keep up. I see a lot of black and navy sided Cobault, Formula, and Proline running around the Tampa Bay Area that look good.

My 34 Fountain had black hullsides. Never had a problem BUT it was lightly used and kept indoors.
Keep one indoors I'd think no problems. If it sits outside, lots of polish!

RR

Be sure to buy a black Sharpie marker to keep on the boat also.

last three boats have been all black. started with black gel, then custom painted black with flames. never had a issue with mine, and would do it again.

If my red SeaDoo is any indicator I would look for another boat. That thing can fade under a cover.

My Hydrostream was black and you could literally fry eggs on it even in Michigan sun! Seats were gray and I had to cool them with water before sitting on them. No good!

Had a black gel coat boat for 3-4 years and will say it does take more work to keep it looking right but IMO the work was worth it to not be another white boat out there. I lightly buffed twice a year (half way through the season and at the end) and waxed probably two more times during the season but the majority of my issues were on the top sides of the deck. The hull sides not nearly as bad and we used the heck out of that boat. Out every weekend for 12 plus hours a day with an average of 10 people on board partying and probably twice a week in the evenings for an hour or two predominately in salt. The only trick is at least rinse it down after each use so the salt doesn't dry on it and bake and scratch the sides up.

I'd absolutely have a boat with black sides again but never a black deck.