If you look at pictures of old wooden sailing or motor yachts, they are mostly white (white lead paint?) or varnished, working boats of all types being tarred, and I assume the look has been carried over, in the same way as narrowboat painting styles.
Mind you, the exhibitors of the leopard-spot nb exhibited at the National said it was an attempt to break the mould! Sean [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
