Re-painting a boat

[Timber]

I have an older 14 ft. Crestliner that I'd like to repaint inside and out. What would be a good paint to use so it would last? Should I primer the places where it's down to the aluminum?

Thanks!

[Valv]

Do a search, or browse threads of a couple weeks ago, they had same question as you have now, and lots of good info regarding this issue.

[tyho]

Go to a local paint supplier and tell him that you will be painting a aluminum boat. He should be able to set you up with what you need. Do not use primer on aluminum. You should use zinc chromate. This is primer for aluminum. It would also be a good idea to sand the previous paint to rough it up, and any bare aluminum you should alodine it then prime it with zinc chromeate, then you can paint it. After you do the inside of the boat there is a product called avial 30 that you can spray the bottom of the boat before you put the deck back down that will push and keep all water off the boat and hold it suspended up off the floor so that it will not cause corrosion.

[Steve Bakken]

Depending on how durable you want the paint to be (i.e. sunfading, chemical resistance to gasoline, etc.), I would definitely recommend that you use a two component paint that mixes with a catalyst. This will "lock" the paint together to itself, and to the primer. This is similar to what the auto manufactures use now as opposed to the old days with laquer that you could wash back off with a rag of solvent.