Narrowboat Painting Blog

Advice, maintenance guides and stories from the paint dock

Finished narrowboat paintwork at RP Boat Painting near Penkridge Staffordshire
Tips & GuidesJuly 20267 min

Boat Painting West Midlands: Narrowboat Repaints Near Wolverhampton, Stafford and Penkridge

Looking for boat painting in the West Midlands? RP Boat Painting provides narrowboat repaints, canal boat refinishing, hull blacking and traditional paintwork from Teddesley Boat Yard near Penkridge.

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Red blue and cream narrowboat bow with professional gloss paintwork
MaintenanceJuly 20266 min

Narrowboat Painting Wolverhampton: When Is It Time for a Full Repaint?

A practical guide for Wolverhampton boat owners on when a narrowboat needs a full repaint, paint restoration, coach lining refresh or targeted repair work.

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Traditional narrowboat stern with green and maroon finished paintwork at Teddesley Boat Yard
Tips & GuidesJune 20266 min

Boat Painting Stafford and Penkridge: Why Local Canal Boat Painters Matter

For boat owners in Stafford, Penkridge and nearby villages, a local narrowboat painter can make repaint planning, inspections, haul out and aftercare much simpler.

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Narrowboat cabin side with grey and maroon paintwork coach lines and portholes
Heritage & CraftJune 20267 min

Canal Boat Repainting Near Me: Keywords Boat Owners Use for the Same Job

Boat painting, narrowboat refinishing, marine coatings, cabin repainting, signwriting and hull blacking are closely related searches. Here is what each term usually means.

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Traditional narrowboat stern after professional hull blacking and paintwork
MaintenanceJune 20266 min

Hull Blacking and Boat Painting in the West Midlands: Plan Both Together

If your narrowboat needs hull blacking, it may also be the right time to assess cabin paint, roof wear, rust spots and wider repaint work.

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Colourful narrowboat bow with traditional diamond pattern paintwork
Heritage & CraftJune 20268 min

The History of Narrowboat Painting: A Craft Born on Britain's Canals

From the working boats of the Industrial Revolution to the award-winning finishes of today, the tradition of narrowboat decoration is a living art form.

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2-pack hull blacking finished narrowboat hull at Teddesley Boat Yard
Tips & GuidesMay 20266 min

2-Pack Epoxy vs Bitumen: Which Hull Blacking is Right for Your Narrowboat?

A practical look at the differences between 2-pack epoxy and traditional bitumen, including lifespan, preparation and when each option makes sense.

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Traditional narrowboat stern with fresh green and maroon paintwork
Case StudyApril 20265 min

Before & After: A 58ft Narrowboat Brought Back to Life at Teddesley

A weathered narrowboat arrives at our heated dock in Penkridge and leaves with a fresh, durable finish built for years on the water.

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Shot blasted narrowboat cabin side showing surface preparation
MaintenanceMarch 20264 min

5 Warning Signs Your Narrowboat Hull Needs Urgent Attention

Rust blooms, bubbling paint and soft spots can all point to hull problems that are easier to fix early than late.

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Grey and maroon narrowboat cabin side with elegant coach lines and portholes
Heritage & CraftFebruary 20267 min

The Art of Coach Lining: Keeping a Victorian Craft Alive on the Cut

Those elegant lines along a canal boat are more than decoration: they are part of a long visual tradition on British waterways.

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Black narrowboat bow with diamond pattern paintwork in the yard
Tips & GuidesJanuary 20265 min

Shot Blasting Explained: Why Proper Surface Prep Makes All the Difference

You cannot paint over a bad surface and expect it to last. Shot blasting gives coatings the clean, stable base they need.

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