Painting my boat

[Franklin Nutter]

Hello, I have a 19ft early 90's model fiberglass boat. The boat has never had an engine in it so as you can imagine its never been in the water,yet the paint is chipping off in big flakes. I read a few things online about the causes of it. On my boat it seems that the filler(bondo?-red stuff) under the paint is drying out and cracking.I know that in order to paint I will need to sand the boat completly down past that. I currently have all of the paint sanded off. My question with this is what course of sand paper and what method should I use from here? Also is the new paint going to do the same thing? I was planning on using Imron paint for the simple reason I'm trying to have it painted silver metallic to match my truck. With this paint will I or should I have it clearcoated? I'm planning on having it painted by the professionals but I would like to do all the prep work myself(saving money)and want to do it right the first time. Thanks for the help.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Painting my boat

For final sanding, use 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. This will give a good finish. In order to get to the final sanding, use an orbital sander with gradually finer sandpaper. You can usually get 220 grit paper for these power sanders. You can use an airpowered sander to do the wet sanding. I wetsanded my boat using an electric orbital sander, a garden hose and a GFI-protected plug, however I do not recommend this method.<br /><br />Imron and Awlgrip are excellent paints to use. The professional painter may have a recommendation on which one to use.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Painting my boat

Are we doing the whole boat, or just the top surfaces?<br /><br />Honestly you should sand the boat as it is with 150-180 grit with an orbital sander. Then you should either yourself, or have the shop do it, apply a catylized primer sufacer. Then wet sand that preferably by hand with a hard sponge block with 400 grit. In my experience with Imron, you do not want to sand finer than 400 on a boat. This gives the best bite, and it will be harder to chip it off if it were to get hit with something. Imron will fill the 400 grit sanding scratches easily. <br /><br />You do not have to use a clear coat, but if you do it will be more durable and resist fading in the sun better, plus, if you get some dirt in it it can be lightly sanded and buffed. Take note, the Imron clear is extremely difficult to polish after wet sanding. You do not under any cercumstances want to use anything coarser than 2,000-2,500 wet paper. If you do you will never get the scratches out. Actually a metal polish like mothers will work the best to plish with a machine buffer with a wool pad. Forget the foam ones for imron. Been there, done that!