Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Have seen this quote before, "paint don't move cargo" The new paint looks nice though.

As of February 7, there has been no painting done to the Great Republic.

Fellas, paint is much more than most might think. There are two types that are applied to these hulls. AF and AC. Anti-fouling and Anti-corrosive. Basically the AC paint is applied first and then to prevent growth the AF paint is applied. Paint does matter when it comes down to the screw turning. The screw turns with a certain load 'rack' on the main engine, leaving RPM up to hull efficiency and speed. Hull efficiency IS a huge item with shipping companies who think of the potential cost savings and profit of that extra speed over one season may give two extra runs. think about it. there are hull coatings out here that are using the golf ball effect to cut surface tension and are providing outstanding results for companies in fuel reduction, cost savings, and higher speeds. BTW for a full footer paint job it racks up a 170k bill, and depends on the shipyard as well. The Jackman will be getting Algoma colors this year.

I have been pretty discouraged from taking many pics because of the condition of the paint on many hulls. I asked "why the neglect?", and it appears that the rules have changed. No ship side scrapping and painting these days outside the shipyards. Newer environmental rules. I guess rust dripping from a hull is better than bits of paint flakes in the environment....

N Oldie wrote:a paint job doesn't make the screw turn faster nor does it increase the amount of cargo the boat will carry. And rust prevention isn't much of an issue on fresh water (salt carriers excluded).

Painting a footer costs what? $80 to 100,000? You need to carry lots of taconite to clear enough for a paint job after all your other expenses.

Steamboat companies don't operate to present neat-looking boats for us nerds to drool over. They operate to make a profit. They're responsible to many different interests, and boatnerds are not too high up on the list.

Just a few thoughts.

Reading the lament on this string, you'd think that something serious was involved.

Actually, cleaning and painting the hull, which scrubs all of the floating clinging objects from the bottom of the hull can increase a ship's speed by a little bit. Over the course of a season that can make a difference.

UPS comes to mind. Truck is washed every day and painted once a year. Would not want truck broken down and all those packages a day late because of improper maintenance. Just good business sense.

I can see that a paint job does not provide tangible benefits to the bottom line, such as increased productivity. However, there are intangible benefits that make the investment worthwhile. A ship, locomotive, truck or airplane is a moving billboard for its owner. A ship's appearance says something to the customers it serves, to potential new customers, to the public at large and to the employees that work on them. When I see company vehicles of any kind looking neat and trim it suggests to me the company has pride in what it does and it wants everyone to see it. That trickles down to employee morale which effects productivity and efficiency. Sure, there will be times when business conditions make a fresh paint job an unaffordable luxury. But I would guess that when it's possible companies will want their ships, etc.. looking as neat as possible. Just my opinion and an attempt to acknowledge that the issue is complex and likely not just about the bottom line.

A well cared for ship offers many benefits to the bottom line. If the only thing it accomplished was to make for pretty pictures for boatnerds, ships would've never been painted.

You hear the same comments in the railfan world especially if it's from a old Southern Pacific fan. Yet there are a ton of intangible and tangible benefits to well cared for motive power including for the men and women that work aboard them.

Like anything, nothing is ever that simple. It's down a bit on the list of priorities, but to portray it as being void of benefits beyond pretty photographs simply isn't accurate.

a paint job doesn't make the screw turn faster nor does it increase the amount of cargo the boat will carry. And rust prevention isn't much of an issue on fresh water (salt carriers excluded).

Painting a footer costs what? $80 to 100,000? You need to carry lots of taconite to clear enough for a paint job after all your other expenses.

Steamboat companies don't operate to present neat-looking boats for us nerds to drool over. They operate to make a profit. They're responsible to many different interests, and boatnerds are not too high up on the list.

Just a few thoughts.

Reading the lament on this string, you'd think that something serious was involved.

If the Niagara and Martin get painted this year, "it will be when in-service" by the crew. They "are not" being repainted during Winter Layup.

Chris M wrote:James R Barker and Great Republic for sure

I know it was stated that the Republic will get new livery, but that was said for the Munson last year too. Nothing is certain with GLF with CN pinching pennies everywhere.

I doubt Algoma will touch up the equinox, look at how the RAT and Mariner look and they're not old

The Martin and Niagara will receive new paint this year, and I expect all the trillium class will receive touch up's as well. The Laurietien may as well. For Algoma, I expect that the equinox will receive touch up's as well. There is a lot of marketing behind these boats, so I'm assuming that CSL and Algoma will want them to look as best as possible at all times.

Add The Burns Harbor to the much needed paint list. I agree, a new paint job would improve the Indy Harbor and Mccarthy a lot. Sadly, In a few years they'll look like ten miles of bad road.

When I worked for Imperial Oil many years ago that's all we did from fitout to layup was paint and sougee. The old tankers always looked good. One ship in the csl fleet that still looks like someone cares is Csl Frontinac. and she is probably the oldest in the fleet. Old Capt Harold Racehorse Miller would be proud if he was still here. To bad ACR could not come up with some paint to do their fleet up as many of the ships are showing much wear.

Bummer that the Indiana Harbor and the Walter J. McCarthy Jr. are not getting any new paint jobs for 2014. Yeah I know I say it every year about those two ASC footers but let's face it, just look at the two of them sometime and judge for yourself! They have been needing paint jobs for years and all they get is "touch up and not the real deal that they really need!"

Kaministiqua will have new paint as well. Not sure about the CSL Niagara or Paul Martin, since both are being repowered this winter. Capt. Henry Jackman is getting her 5-year but I doubt she'll see new paint.

James R Barker and Great Republic for sure

What ships will be getting new paint jobs for the upcoming 2014 Shipping Season?