Need advice: paint or polish aluminum basstracker?

[buckeye_sean]

Bought an '84 Basstracker 17' aluminum earlier this year and with much help from the forum got it up and running. (Absolutely love owning my own boat by the way.) Boat was recently re-carpeted on the inside from the previous owner, but the outside shows the years of usage and is stained a light brown from the water. I tried cleaning one side to see how it would hold up. From some advice I found here, I used aluminum wheel cleaner and an SOS pad. Turned out great and looked like a million bucks. However just last weekend I noticed that below the waterline is starting to show some stains again.<br /><br />Even though it's older, I want to keep my boat looking as clean and nice as possible. I don't know if I have the energy to keep polishing frequently if that's what it takes. I've been seeing more and more painted aluminums around and thought maybe it would be easier over the long haul to just paint it as a winter project and then nothing to worry about. Or should I give everything a good polish and then try to apply a clearcoat? (Don't know if clearcoat will stick to aluminum very well.) Could sure use some advice here.<br /><br />As always thanks in advance

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Need advice: paint or polish aluminum basstracker?

As you suspect your problem will be getting a clearcoat to adhere to the aluminium.<br />If you want to retain the natural look I suggest you try to find a clear epoxy finish, if you prepare the metal properly (thoroughly degrease and mild acid etch), that will stick better than any other clear finish I can think of.<br />Alternatively you could just prime the whole boat and paint it with an aluminium topcoat, a good aluminium spray job can look quite convincing from a distance.

 

[DJ]

Re: Need advice: paint or polish aluminum basstracker?

Here is a link to an aluminum boat I resurected.<br /><br />Painting aluminum is not hard. I used the "roll and tip" method. I would defy anyone to be able to tell that it was not sprayed.<br /><br />The quality of the job is in the prep and the materials. Go cheap and quick, it will look cheap and quick.<br /><br />Click on the link in the first post for the before and after pictures.<br /><br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=26;t=000270#000000

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: Need advice: paint or polish aluminum basstracker?

My 2cents......The water you are in is diry,and will do the same to paint.

 

[buckeye_sean]

Re: Need advice: paint or polish aluminum basstracker?

DJ, I read your thread a while back and in part is what has made me consider painting.<br /><br />b.gagnon, yes the water has been muddy because of all the rain we had early in the year - but the lakes are finally starting to settle down and are mostly a nice shade of dark blue vs. brown. I trailer my boat, so it's not like it sits at dock all season. I figured a few coats of wax during the season would keep it looking clean.<br /><br />BTW - does anyone wax their aluminum hull? Would that seem to help protect it from staining?

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Need advice: paint or polish aluminum basstracker?

Nice paint job DJ, I roll'n'tipped my GRP dinghy with International Topsides last season, the finish was great and still is, almost as good as any spray job I've ever done.<br />I sprayed the boat I'm currently building though as I've used fast drying epoxy paint, there's just not enough time to roll and tip with this stuff!<br />Have you ever tried rolling metallic paint, with good results?

 

[DJ]

Re: Need advice: paint or polish aluminum basstracker?

petrolhead,<br /><br />No, I have not tried that. I'm not sure it would work.<br /><br />Interesting idea!

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Need advice: paint or polish aluminum basstracker?

I'm not sure it would work either! I know what happens when you spray metallic paint too heavily or unevenly, the metallic particles drop out of solution and you get a blotchy effect. I think the same might happen if you rollered it, spraying is probably the only way to get a really good metallic finish.