Now I'm paying for it .... or maybe not.

[knehdn]

I know, I know, I know, I know ....
Yup, I did the unthinkable; took the cheap route; listened to a big box store paint 'professional'; and now even the morning dew is making the paint peel and bubble. According to the 'professional', the $13 can of Tremclad would stick just fine to bare alumnium. Has a built in primer he said. WRONG!!!
Right now, I'm sure my pressure washer will remove all and any remnants of this $13 can. (the REAL primer and paint was going to cost over $100, and I just couldn't see that kind of money spent on little tinny just for fishing here and there and wherever and banging on docks and rocks and trailers and... well, you get my drift)
So I need to ask....
Do I really need to paint my 16' open 3-seater Starcraft?
Is it fine just being aluminum and maybe use an aluminum polish on it?
The photo was taken just prior to painting.
Thank you.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Now I'm paying for it .... or maybe not.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune.
When painting aluminum it IS absolutely imperative that you use at a minimum a self etching primer in order for any paint to properly adhere to the surface. Rustoleum is just about the least expensive paint you can use to paint your aluminum boat and get good results. They have a self etching primer and then you can use their oil based premium paint for your finished product. There are multiple examples here on the forum of people doing this with GREAT results. You CAN use you boat as a bare aluminum hull and just wax and polish it. Use a buffer and compound to polish it up to make her shine.

I'm just sayin...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Now I'm paying for it .... or maybe not.

Rustoleum's etching primer is some weird latex stuff and I'm kinda leary of it. If that was my boat I'd hit it with this http://www.duplicolor.com/products/selfEtchingPrimer/ which I found at Pep-Boys pretty reasonably. You only need a light dusting of it. Then go with Rustoleum Clean Metal Primer and then Rustoluem top coat of your favorite color.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Now I'm paying for it .... or maybe not.

If it makes you feel any better I sprayed two coats of bedliner inside my 12' tinny and it has been a complete debacle. I used no primer either and regret ever doing it.

The bare metal look is nice, there are pontoon polishing products that can make it reflective, check out sharkhyde for example.

Good luck!

 

[lakelover]

Re: Now I'm paying for it .... or maybe not.

You don't really need any paint on it, several Starcraft tinnies come from the manufacturer with no bottom paint. Just clean the crud off it once in a while and you should be good to go.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Now I'm paying for it .... or maybe not.

I'm actually surprised that the Tremclad didn't stick. Tremclad is the Canadian equal to the American Rustoleum. Same manufacturer. Although we can now get rustoleum up here. I used it on a tinny that I once had and had no issues what so ever. It probably won't hurt to use self etching primer first but not sure why you had the problem. I'm assuming it was cleaned at least before you applied the paint. How did you apply it, roller? spray?