Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

[josh6780]

So I think I have a plan now. And here it is. Along with more questions. <br /><br />1. Sand entire boat with 120 grit wet sandpaper. <br /><br />2. Wash entire boat with 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. <br /><br />3. Apply one coat (thin) of zinc chromate paint. <br /><br />4. Wet sand with 120 (very lightly). <br /><br />5. Apply one coat "Metalprep" primer. <br /><br />6. Wet sand with 120 grit. <br /><br />7. Figure out how I want to paint it. <br /><br />Has far has the inside I am going to sand it all down. I think I might just go ahead and gluv it all the rivits just to do it. Then I am going to have it rhino lined. That will for sure seal everything. Now my question is. Do you think I should rhino line the bottom of the boat also? It might be better. And do you think I can paint over all the rhino liner?

 

[gewf631]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

The painting steps you outline seem to be in line with previous posts on the same topic.<br /><br />As for the rhino-liner. That will add some weight to your boat (I'm guessing 25-50lbs), depending on thickness and surface - they can spray smooth or rough.<br /><br />You mention "bottom" - I assume you mean the outside of the hull. I had looked into this before myself, and depending on how/where the boat is used, this seems like an ideal surface. I don't know about the Rhino brand, but I do know that some others are available in different colors, so you might want to look further.

 

[josh6780]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

Do I have to prep the boat for a liner spray? ir do they do all that?

 

[brine]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

with some of those liners , they sandblast to bare metal before spraying . call your local liner guy

 

[garrett61]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

Try too look into grizzly grip its comparable to rhino but made for marine with stronger UV additive.<br />it goes on with a roller or tip. barley any prep work

 

[josh6780]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

what should I use for bottom paint. I really need to know if I can paint over everything? B/c when I paint the boat camo I want to paint the whole boat camo. <br /><br />Also I would like to know. Do I have to prime it right after I sand it? I would assume to so it does not start to oxidize again

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

Hi Josh. I contacted rhino liner(the company) awhile back about this question, and they told me that the rhino liner was not going to take paint well, because it's a rubberized coating, and as such, it is not very porous. The paint has to key, or etch, into something. This is why your surface must be porous, or lightly sanded, or you must have a self-etching primer. I questioned the advice, and felt like I could spray the paint on while the rhino lining was still damp. If it's damp, the pores will still be open, and may take paint. In the long run, though, I let some other considerations override this expirement.<br />1. Rhino lining is heavy. It's sprayed on thick, so it's like tarring the bottom of your boat with a rubberized grip. <br />2. For the inside of the boat, it's going to be HOT. As was mentioned, there are other options that come in different colors. I've seen them advertised for marine use.<br /><br />Now, for the bottom of your boat, paint away. I painted my last one. It's going to get scratched, though. I won't paint the bottom of another aluminum boat, but that's just my personal feelings. I didn't like scratching up my paint job on the first trip out, so I no longer paint the bottom. There's no reason that you can't paint it, though. It's a boat. Paint away. I have the feeling that you aren't going to leave your boat in the water for weeks on end, so a decent enamel will do the job. If you want a little tougher finish, buy a good enamel, or I used a clearcoat 1 part epoxy with good UV protection to go over my last paint job and that came out nice and hard.

 

[josh6780]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

ok, So before I get the inside lined. I was going to seal each rivit with gluv it or jb weld. Now. How does this stuff work. Does it soak in the rivits? b/c they are going to prep the inside and sand it for me. So I don't want them to sand off MY work. How should I do this.

 

[drwgblanks]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

Josh, I restored an alumacraft about 12 years ago. I made several bad mistakes, one including painting some of the metal with paint not made for aluminum. Result...pinholes after a couple years. Anyway, sounds like you got a pretty good plan. As far as gluv-it, I know everybody recommends this stuff for the rivits, at least several places recommended it to me. It was a total waste of time. The next year when i pulled the floor out to see why it was leaking, I also noticed the gluv-it was so dried up, that it was just peeling and cracking off any rivits and seams I put it on.

 

[josh6780]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

so what am I supposed to seal them with? You think the rhino liner's gummy rubberized paint will seal them enough? or maybe I should use jb weld. But you know I don't ever want to deal these again for a long long time. Maybe I should just use this stuff on every frekin rivit. http://www.aluminumrepair.com/ It will cost though. <br /><br />I was also wondering if I should seal these from the inside of the bought or the bottom of the boat?

 

[drwgblanks]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

Josh, I tried to seal mine from the inside. I cleaned it with some solvent and etched it lightly. I can't remember what solvent, but anyway, obviously it didn't work for me. I would venture to say, that when concerning the rivets...if you put anything on them that didn't seep or weld to the rivet and hull, that it would crack apart as soon as the rivet moved a little (but I'm no expert). Gluv-it was supposed to remain flexible. Maybe others have had better luck with it. I thought of using something similar to rhino liner back then. I just didn't try it. Maybe if I had, i would still be using that boat to this day, who knows. You said that you were just gonna gluvit them since you were in there, so I assume you don't think anything is wrong with the rivets? I know it won't hurt to do them, I just thought it was a waste of time for me.

 

[joblo33]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

I use sikaflex 292 on my leaky rivets. Seems to work well and it's really flexible after drying. It'll stick to anything too.<br />Eric

 

[josh6780]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

well, For one thing has far has I know right now. I don't have any leaky rivits. But I have not taken the bottom paint off yet. Anyway. My real question was. if I use gluv it or any other product. Does it soak in and around the rivits? B/c see when I get the liner in there they are going to sandblast it or prep it down to the metel. Will that destory my work?

 

[drwgblanks]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

Josh, I would definitely have it sandblasted first, then use whatever you are going to use over them. Maybe they will sandblast it, then allow you to spend a day doing whatever you want to it before they spray it? As far as the gluv-it penetrating the rivets...I don't think it will that well unless there is some forgiveness in them already. On their site, they claim it penetrates well I need to stop talking about their product, because like I mentioned, some may have had better luck with it. Maybe you should talk to the rhino liner guys again and ask them if their product will even stick well to the gluvit before you even think it any further. That liner may be well enough alone.

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

If it were me, I'd try maybe 220 or 320 paper for the sanding prior to the final painting. You can always go to the 120 if it looks like its not working for you. I'd err on the side of the finer grit to avoid visible sanding marks in the finish coat.

 

[joblo33]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

It's been 8 days since your last update. How'd it go? I own 3 aluminum boats in various states of leakiness and am therefore very interested in this project.<br />Eric

 

[djzyla1980]

Re: Here are my restoration plans for my alumacraft. Tell me what you think

As far as the rivets go... I had a few leaky rivets on an old aluminum boat, Took out the JB weld and covered them up. This stuff is great. Used it on radiators, water pumps, gas tanks. Sand it drill it do whatever you want. After fully cured it is as hard as a rock. I have never had any probs of this falling off or cracking, as long as the surface is bare.