Painting My Boat

[RZRush]

Hey guys, Ive got a 14' aluminum and need to paint it. Im wondering what exactly to use and where the best place is to get paint. And should I be preparing to grab my ancles over the cost of it?

Thanks

[ProComp]

PM Straight-Pipe, he did a nice job on his and he's a paint guy.

[RZRush]

PM Straight-Pipe, he did a nice job on his and he's a paint guy.

Will do thanks.

[LeCaptain]

PM Straight-Pipe, he did a nice job on his and he's a paint guy.

Ditto. He knows what he is doing.

[Limey]

Me and a buddy hand bombed his boat about 5 years ago and it is holding up great. Just used a good spray paint(cant remember the brand, any exterior paint should be fine). And did about 3-4 coats. Looks good. and very cheap.

[Mr.Excitement]

some people say to use an eching primer, so the paint bites, but there is special paint you can buy which etches its self. i do belief Straight Pipe used that and cleared his... his boat looked beautiful!!! he will definitely steer you in the right direction, i know that General Paint did sell paint for boats at one time, not sure if they still do or not.

[4MULA]

I would head to somewhere that sells REAL automotive paint and just ask what to buy, and go from there. Is there not some kind of special aluminum paint, or also some kind of boat paint? I know our neighbours at the lake had their boat done, but it was fibreglass...so something different I guess.

[ProComp]

I would head to somewhere that sells REAL automotive paint and just ask what to buy, and go from there. Is there not some kind of special aluminum paint, or also some kind of boat paint? I know our neighbours at the lake had their boat done, but it was fibreglass...so something different I guess.

Call RONDEX

[RZRush]

Ill called Guy's Autobody in Steinbach and they said they dont carry anything for boats and that regular automotive paint would blister over time if it sat in the water.

[Mudforce]

Well from working at Lund in Steinbach for almost 13 years I beleive all they used was an acrylic automotive paint. The best thing to do is sand the boat with like 200 grit paper, wipe down with a solvent then prime and paint.

[Mudforce]

Or you could go to Steinbach, were they still have a repair shop and ask them to paint it for you, my cousin is the painter there and will do a great job of painting your boat for you.

[Got Mud]

Lund uses PPG auto motive paint It is the Primer that is different if you strip the boat to the Aluminum then you need to use a self etching primer to bite into the aluminum and your paint will stick just fine.

[whiteindian01]

I'M GONNA ROLL TREMCLAD OVER MY OLD PAINT AND LET U KNOW W UT HAPPENS.....oops sorry fer the caps

[x4332]

make sure you post pics of that roller job, should be nice.

I seen a guy use a paint brush on his beater car once, funniest looking thing when you get close and look.

[straight-pipe]

Thanks guys for the kind words!
anyways where exactly are you planing on painting? I'd steer clear of painting the bottom due to scratches.
But MR.X had it right and a few others and that is to use a etch primer on "bare" aluminum.
#1 You need to strip the old paint off as gently as you can. if you are sanding use no less than 400 grit and if you wanna take the easy route get "aircraft" paint stripper. Just do that out side and you have to wash it totally clean with water when done.
#2 once all the paint is off and the aluminum is clean and dry mask off what you don't want painted.
#3 if you don't have access to a compressor and a spray gun goto Spectrum Coatings and talk to a guy named Tim..tell him Dave from Gretna sent ya. Get a quality etch spray bomb by U-POL and give it one thin coat of etch.
#4 if you are spray bombing also get a U-POL primer can and give it one or two coats of primer....let dry for a few hours and lightly scuff the primer with a red scuff pad.....wipe the primer off clean....tack cloth it...and paint. Sectrum can set you up with custom color spray bombs and they will help you with any other advise you need.
BUT if you have a compressor and a spay gun simply get some epoxy primer from Spectrum and spray that right over the bare aluminum and from there let it "flash off" for 20 mins and paint right over that with no sanding. you can go with whatever paint you want (or can afford)so long as it doesn't stay under water for like weeks on end. I did mine in base/clear but acrylic enamel,acrylic urethane...any decent auto paint will do. Just stay clear of straight enamels that you don't activate with a hardener, those take for ever to dry completely and will stain very easily and do stay somewhat soft for a long time.
LOL ....just goto Sectrum Coatings (PPG paint) and Tim will help you out.Tim knows where I work and if he needs to talk to me he'll call.

[straight-pipe]

If you live near Altona Bring it down here (after you stripped the paint off) and I can help you out with painting it. I have a compressor and spray guns here in my garage. I used to own a body shop and I have set up my garage as a small hobby shop.
If this interests you PM me for my PH#