Painting a 12' Aluminum

[dmichaelm]

Hey all,

I know in the past I may have read a post from someone about painting their aluminum boat for waterfowling, but I cant seem to find it so I'm starting a new one.

I have read several different things online about how to get your boat cleaned and ready to take camo paint. I plan to go talk to the guys at my local auto shop, but I always like to hear from fellow sportsman about what has worked for them.

Looking for a concise description of how you prepped and painted your boat, and maybe a picture of how it turned out.

[kg25]

You may have already started, but here is my $.02.

I repainted my '68 Lund 14 footer last summer. I got a lot of help at Iboats.com in there restoration forum. I didn't paint it camo, just black. Basic steps that I did were:

1. Sand down surface ( don't have to remove all paint) and rinse dust off (I removed all sticker before sanding using a 3M rubber wheel I got at the auto parts store. Stuck it on a drill and stickers/decals came off easily)

2. Wash with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water and let air dry

3. Use a self-etching primer to cover bare aluminum (I used rustoleum's spray can self-etching primer)

4. Lightly sand surface and wipe clean

5. Apply primer (I used rustoleums marine primer using a roll and tip method - apply with foam roller and used foam brush to "tip" it)

6. Lightly sand surface and wipe clean

7. Apply top coat (I used rustoleum marine above waterline paint and same method as #5)

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until you are happy with it (I used 3 coats of top paint)

Just follow the drying time on the paint before apply next coats.

I was happy with the outcome. Not perfect since it was my first time, but got many compliments nonetheless.

Hope that helps a little.

[dmichaelm]

just what i needed. ill give it a go.

[Tom7227]

Go to a paint store, a real paint store, and buy your materials there. The staff will know what etching primer works best with aluminum, which paints adhere the best etc..... You will think that you're spendnig too much money but really it's the most important part of the process. I'm talking about Abbott, Hiershfields, places like that.