The Hidden Paint Problem on New Canal Boats (And How to Protect Yourself)
- widebeamandwelling
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
The Paint Problem No One Warns You About on New Canal Boats
Buying a brand new canal boat should be one of the most exciting moments of your life. But for hundreds of people — ourselves included — that excitement has quickly turned into frustration, disappointment, and in some cases, thousands of pounds in repairs.
🛠️ Rust, Bubbles, Blisters… Just Months In
We’ve now heard from hundreds of boaters who’ve experienced serious paint problems on brand new boats. We’re talking about blistering, bubbling, flaking, and rust — often appearing just months after delivery.
And the worst part?It’s happening across multiple boatbuilders — not just one.
🎁 That’s why we’ve created a FREE downloadable guide: What to Know, Check & Ask Before You Buy a New Canal Boat. Download below ⬇️
The Real Reason? Poor Surface Preparation
In most cases, the root cause is poor surface prep — not poor maintenance.
“A lot of new boats are painted directly over mill scale — a flaky, oxide coating that forms when steel is hot-rolled. If that isn’t fully removed, the paint doesn’t bond properly. Moisture gets in... and the rust begins.”
Paint manufacturers are crystal clear: If the steel isn’t properly cleaned and blasted — to ISO 8501-1 Sa 2.5 or equivalent — the paint will fail. And guess what? They won’t take responsibility.
We’ve been there.
We contacted the paint brand. They blamed the application.
We contacted the builder. They blamed poor maintenance.
And when we asked for help? No one was accountable.
🚨 No Regulation. No Oversight. No Accountability.
There’s no regulatory body overseeing paint preparation in inland canal boatbuilding. No ombudsman. No mandatory inspections. Once you’ve signed that final payment — that’s it. You're on your own.
“We were told it was our fault for poor maintenance. We asked how to maintain the paintwork and received no reply.”
“They blamed condensation — even though the paint was bubbling within weeks.”
What Needs to Change?
If this were the car industry or a seafaring boat, this level of failure would fall under strict regulations.
But for canal boats? There’s a dangerous grey area.
We believe it’s time for:
✅ Independent inspections of surface prep before painting
✅ Clear warranties covering failure from poor application
✅ An industry-wide code of practice with real consequences for non-compliance
📥 Download the Free Checklist
Until that happens, we’ve created something to help:👇
(Checklists includes questions to ask builders, contract clauses, warranty tips, and more.)
🛶 We Love Canal Boat Life — But Buyers Deserve Better!
We’re passionate about boat life, but this issue keeps cropping up — and it’s costing people their savings, their patience, and their trust in builders.
If you’ve experienced paint issues with your new boat: Please leave a comment, or share this blog.
The more we speak up, the more chance we have of getting this industry to clean up its act.
💬 Has Your New Boat Had Paint Issues?
Tell us your story in the comments below. 👇
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