Paint Codes and Schemes

 

Please note that the paint colours can differ from boat to boat, so these details should only be used as a rough guide. There have also been a number of exceptions over the years see below.

Item
Colour
Paint Code
Manufacturer
US Coast Guard
Photo US Coast Guard
Superstructure and Hull Above Waterline
White
(FS 17875)
?
Mast and Anchors
Spar
(FS 10371)
?
Deck
Gray
(FS 36231)
?
or

.
Deck
Deck Blue Gray
(FS 16099)
?
Logo
Red
(FS 12199)
?
Logo
Blue
(FS 15182)
?
Boot Topping
Black
(FS 17038)
?
Hull Below Waterline
?
?
?
US Coast Guard Coatings and Color Manual, CG-263
US Coast Guard Racing Stripe
Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Photo Nicholas Leach

Photo Ian Rolf
Superstructure*3
?
?
?
or
.
Superstructure
Light Orange
557 (BS381C)
Desoto Titanine/PRC-Desoto
Wheelhouse Inside
?
?
?
or
.
Wheelhouse Inside (44-001)
Atlantic Grey
289 (RAL 7004)
International Paint
Deck
Dark Admiralty Grey
632 (BS381C)
Desoto Titanine/PRC-Desoto
Hull Line
Rail Red
593 (BS381C)
Desoto Titanine/PRC-Desoto
Hull Above Waterline
Oxford Blue
105 (BS381C)
Desoto Titanine/PRC-Desoto
Hull Line
Snow White
001
International Paint
Hull Below Waterline
?
?
International Paint

*3 When these boats entered the RNLI fleet, the standard superstructure colour was white and stayed so until the early 70's when it was changed to orange.
Canadian Coast Guard
Photo Canadian Coast Guard
Superstructure *1
?
513-101
International Paint
or
.
Superstructure *1
SAR Yellow
505-101
International Paint
Deck
?
501-212 *2
International Paint
Hull Above Waterline
?
509-102
International Paint
Hull Line and Logo
?
513-101
International Paint
Hull Below Waterline
?
Trilux 2
International Paint
Anchors and Fittings etc.
?
512-101
International Paint
*1 Between 1984 and 1996 the superstructure was painted SAR yellow but before and after these dates it was white.
*2 For nonskid, just add walnut shell.
Italian Coast Guard
Photo Carlo
Superstructure
Mediterranean White
545 (RAL 9003)
International Paint
Wheelhouse Inside
Mauritius Blue
018 (RAL 5013)
International Paint
Deck
Atlantic Grey
289 (RAL 7004)
International Paint
Hull Above Waterline
Mediterranean White
545 (RAL 9003)
International Paint
Logo
?
?
?
Logo
?
?
?
Hull Below Waterline
?
?
International Paint
Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol
Photo Tony Denton
Superstructure
?
?
?
Deck
?
?
?
Hull Above Waterline
?
?
?
Logo
?
?
?
Logo
?
?
?
Hull Below Waterline
?
?
?
Royal New Zealand Coastguard Federation
Photo Max Pudney
Superstructure
?
?
?
Deck
?
?
?
Hull Line
?
?
?
Hull Above Waterline
?
?
?
Logo
?
?
?
Logo
?
?
?
Hull Line and Logo
?
?
?
Hull Below Waterline
?
?
?

Differences To The Above

US Coast Guard

Some of the 44's had there decks painted spar instead of the usual gray colours, with the deck fittings painted black. The reason for the deck colour change was so that helicopters and other aircraft could see the vessel from the air.

This colour scheme made it very difficult though, to see the cleats and other deck fittings at night and it wasn't long before they were changed back to the original colour.
Photo Steve Sabel
44372 at Willapa Bay, Washington

A number of 44's have had at times, the tops of there forward and aft turtles and handrails painted matt black, to stop the glare from the search light at night being reflected back at the crew.
44406

International Orange was used early on, on the turtles of a few boats.

RNLI

The 44-007 "Connel Elizabeth Cargill" was for a period painted with green antifouling.
Photo Tony Moore
44-007 at Arklow March 1986

To the best of my knowledge the information of this page is correct and I can not be held responsible for and errors.

Links

44' Lifeboat Model Paint Codes

International Paint

RAL

Please note that I cannot guaranty the accuracy of the information, which appears on the web sites linked to above.
 
Any help in filling in any of the gaps on this page would be gratefully received e-mail.

 

 

 

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