What kind paint should be used on my boat.

[Paterson00]

I am looking at making some cosmetic improvements to my boat. When the boat was made it had an orange finish. Someone has decided to paint over that in white at some point and in some places the paint has flaked off, presumably because the surface wasnt keyed properly.

I am hoping to sand back the problem areas, key it properly, prime and spray paint over to make it match as best as possible. I have done this on cars before and it didnt come out too badly but what I dont know i if there is a different type of paint that I should be using for this or would car spary paint be ok?

The boat is not particuarily expensive so it doesn't warrent spending a fortune on but I would like to get as good a finish as I can. In reality, what I should do is sand and spray the whole boat and later on down the line I may do but I just want to pretty it up a little for the time being as the orange and white combo is driving me nuts and also where the paint is good its good and I am a little afraid of ruining that with a bad spray job but a bad spray job is better than a flakey orange one.

 

[73Chrysler105]

Re: What kind paint should be used on my boat.

Pics of the area would probably help others get more on board with the little project. The type of paint partially depends on what type of paint is already on it. You need to figure that out first. Some people have used Exterior house paint with success , others have used automotive single and 2 stage paint. The orange if its original is gelcoat and not paint.

I know that raises more questions than answers but first need to fully determine what you have before a proper recommendation can be made.

 

[Paterson00]

Re: What kind paint should be used on my boat.

Pics of the area would probably help others get more on board with the little project. The type of paint partially depends on what type of paint is already on it. You need to figure that out first. Some people have used Exterior house paint with success , others have used automotive single and 2 stage paint. The orange if its original is gelcoat and not paint.

I know that raises more questions than answers but first need to fully determine what you have before a proper recommendation can be made.

Thanks for that, I will take a load of pictures and upoad them.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: What kind paint should be used on my boat.

If some areas of the old paint are flaking off it won't be long before more of it is, so it's best to remove all of it. Otherwise you risk doing all the work, spending the money, then have it fail in six months. There are low cost ways to paint it, and higher cost was to paint it, and you sort of get what you pay for, so what's your budget and expectations?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: What kind paint should be used on my boat.

Might ought to try to have 1 paint Q thread, not 3.... Original thread, pinhole thread that includes paint Q, and here....

Makes it difficult to understand w/out pix too.............. And that way, as you get advice & ask questions, someone won't find it difficult to follow, as you've gotten other advice in other places. Makes it hard for a resident expert, like ondarvr to give you his best advice, building on what's already been asked & answered...

 

[Paterson00]

Re: What kind paint should be used on my boat.

Might ought to try to have 1 paint Q thread, not 3.... Original thread, pinhole thread that includes paint Q, and here....

Makes it difficult to understand w/out pix too.............. And that way, as you get advice & ask questions, someone won't find it difficult to follow, as you've gotten other advice in other places. Makes it hard for a resident expert, like ondarvr to give you his best advice, building on what's already been asked & answered...

Noted and appreciated. I will try and keep it tidier in future. I have simply been spilling out the questions as they have been entering my mind.

These are some pics of my boat.

 

[Paterson00]

Re: What kind paint should be used on my boat.

If some areas of the old paint are flaking off it won't be long before more of it is, so it's best to remove all of it. Otherwise you risk doing all the work, spending the money, then have it fail in six months. There are low cost ways to paint it, and higher cost was to paint it, and you sort of get what you pay for, so what's your budget and expectations?

Im not after a show stopping boat, just something pleasing to the eye and a pleasure to be sitting in. I want to be able to enjoy good family days out. I would like to be able to increase its value if possible to aid when I sell in the future, I will want to uograde eventually, and I would like to know the process of restoring so I can do it as a hobby. As I said before, I have a big fear of stripping the stuff that is ok and it ending up looking worse than it already does because of in experience and therefore devaluing my asset. It really is just the top half that needs doing, the bottom is good, but I think we would all agree that the top half really does need doing.

Regarding my budget, I can spend a fair amount if I wanted to but is the boat worth spending a lot on? I will be carpeting at some point, renewing the rusty bolts in the windscreen and changing the seats throught as time passes, adding a stereo and speakers and a ladder but that will be about it I expect. I dont want to be putting a lot of time and effort into the boat if it wont change anything but its looks a bit, that said, I am really enjoying the process of learning and would like to know how to restore it properly.