Painting aluminum boats

[vanman250]

I have a 14' aluminum starcraft boat and the paint is just worn out I wanted to repaint it but I'm not sure what type of paint I need to use. The boat is in the water only when being used the rest of the time it's on the trailer. The orginal paint never flaked or blistered just became thin and has lasted over 20 years I don't want to put the wrong type on and have a maint. problem<br /><br />thanks

 

[DJ]

Re: Painting aluminum boats

vanman250,<br /><br />My current project boat is a 16' Sea Nymph aluminum. I just rtepainted the whole thing.<br /><br />If you are going over old paint, you can use a primer especially made for that. On this boat, I used Interlux "Metal Prep". My top coat (finish) was Interlux Brightside one part epoxy.<br /><br />If you have any bare metal spots, they should be primed with Zinc Chromate for the first coat then followed by metal prep and topcoat.<br /><br />I would suggest you go to the West Marine website. They have excellent information on boat painting and they carry all the products mentioned.<br /><br />www.westmarine.com

 

[Chaps]

Re: Painting aluminum boats

djohns, I believe the metal prep primers (if you choose to use them) go on before the zinc chromate, then bottom paint over that. I think vanman was talking about bottom paint.

 

[DJ]

Re: Painting aluminum boats

Chaps.,<br /><br />Both Interlux and Pettit recommended ZC (on bare metal) before the metal prep.<br /><br />It made sense to me, the ZC etches the aluminum.

 

[vanman250]

Re: Painting aluminum boats

I'm painting the whole boat. Should the sides be painted with some other type of paint then the bottom

 

[DJ]

Re: Painting aluminum boats

vanman,<br /><br />If the boat spends the majority of its time on a trailer, one type of paint is fine.<br /><br />Interlux says their Brightside paint (which is a topside paint) is OK in the water for up to 48 hours at a time.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Painting aluminum boats

Vanman<br />I agree with Djohns.<br />For bare metal can wash with vinager first then flush and dry. Prime with Zinc Chromate. For top coat make sure paint is made for aluminum and no copper. For a trailer boat do not use bottom paint. Most bottom paints do not like being out of the water for more than a short time. <br />West marine catalog also has a lot of good info on paints.<br />I would suggest waiting for temp of 70 or higher before painting.

 

[Lark40]

Re: Painting aluminum boats

Or, if you remove the old paint by sandblasting, as I did five years ago, you wil have an echted surface for your top coat to go right over. No primers needed.

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: Painting aluminum boats

you'll get a better job if you strip the hull right down to the substrate- use ''Hydrostrip'' from ICI, or check out the manufacturor, www.napierenvironmental.com for a list of distributors.The stuff is water based, non toxic, no fumes and won't burn your skin.It works on aluminum as well as fiberglass, and won't damage the gelcoat.