Duck boat paint

[East Rush Rules]

Hey guys,

Im just wondering what kind of base coat paint is the best to use for my boat. Do you put a primer down first and then get that H.S. stuff and go over it or do you use some other method?? Any help would be appriciated!! Korey

[beretta]

I have been researching the same thing. I have heard that for an aluminum boat you should use a self etching primer if you want it to last. I picked some up the other day but havent gotten a chance to use it. I hope it works! Thats about all I have heard so hopefully someone else on here knows what the heck to do.

[wyldewal]

I just painted mine this spring. It's an old boat and I used the cheap paint method. 99 cent grey auto primer and $1.09 flat black, brown, green, and tan. All in spray cans looks good and cheap enough to keep adding coats .

[set the drag]

use a real fine sand paper and score the aluminum so the paint has something to stick to I did this on my jeep and duck boat and they look fine after three years of the worst stuff imaginable. the jeep looks a little better cuz it doesn't go in the water but im impressed with the results. oh forgot to tell you i used a wagner power sprayer for both applications.

[beretta]

wyldewal- I like your philosofy...I think it sounds a lot cheaper. I might have to do that instead. Or maybe combine the two!

[FlyingV]

Beretta, I see you are from Aitkin. I grew up there and have a place near there. I hunt a lot of the rice lake around Mille Lacs.

Where around Aitkin are you from?

[icehousebob]

I did up an old boat a few years ago that has held up pretty well. Prep is the most important. I scrubbed it half to death with a brush and detergent solution. Then after rinsing, I washed it again with Tri-sodium-phosphate (TSP). I brushed on the H.S. tan paint and one of my sons did the camo. He held a handful of cattail leaves up to the boat and sprayed through them using brown, olive drab and a bit of flat black. When the leaves were saturated with paint, he would slap them against the boat to clear them. The splatter added to the rest give it a good effect. When the boat is as old as mine, I don't think you have to rough up the surface with sandpaper to get paint to stick. On newer ones it might be necessary.

[FOOT]

East Rush, I'm not sure of the paint used but one night at a party 30 years ago when I was a lot younger we had one of the guys wives convinced ducks don't see the color purple.

He had just purchased a used Alumacraft F7 w/ 15 hp motor and needed to paint it for the upcoming waterfowl season.

His bride (they were married less then 2 months) decided one day to surprise her husband and paint the boat. Since we had filled her head full of stories about painting a duck boat purple she went out and found some purple paint.

He comes home after work to find her about half done painting the boat.

We still laugh about that one when we get together. Thank goodness she's a good egg and didn't hold it against us or try to get even.

[riverrat56]

Can someone give me a step by step list of what to do, and anything that isn't common knowledge-a description of how to do it?

Im looking to paint my old lund 14ft boat.

[Farley]

riverrat- Icehousebob has it right on, you may want to score the surface, at least the floor since that gets the most abuse, with sandpaper or a wire brush. That gets the paint to stick. Then wash it. Then paint it. You really dont have to use a primer if you do this, just put on an extra basecoat. Using cattails as a stencil works really well. Last year I painted the floor and touched up a few spots on the "Coot Killer" and I used a wire brush on a air drill to score it. The paint made it through the season, and I really didnt put a whole heck of a lot on.

[riverrat56]

Should I just wash it with soap and water? Or do I need to use paint thinner or something?

[Farley]

Here's what I'd do:

take a wire brush or sandpaper, scotchbrite, or someting and score the aluminum, get rid of any flakey paint.

Then wash with water or soapy water to get rid of paint chips, shavings, anything that will mess up the paint. Wipe dry.

Then apply Tri-sodium-phosphate if you can get your hands on some. I believe this stuff helps bond the paint to the aluminum.

Then paint with either spraypaint, or brush on, use at least 3 coats.

[riverrat56]

Thanks Farley

[beretta]

I refinished a boat for duck hunting last winter and used herculiner (a spray on bed liner) for my floor. It holds up great and gives a little extra grip and warmth in wet conditions.

FlyingV- I live right in town. Im sure that I probably hunt some of the same rice lakes. sec. 20, Mallard, Kimberly Marsh....you name it. If its in the Aitkin Area and if it has rice on it Ive hunted it. Wheres your place?

[The_Duckslayer]

I redid mine 5 years ago. Took some fine sandpaper and roughed up the old paint and then shot it with cans of Krylon camo paint. IF you decide to do that get the little attachemnt that goes on the can to be the spray trigger! After 23 cans of spray paint your fingers will be glad that you did. Paint is holding up fine, though a bit faded as the boat is not garage kept. Have a good one and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[FlyingV]

Beretta, I'm SW of of town off of Cedar Lake Road.

[beretta]

FlyingV- I know 28 very well. I fish cedar a lot and have a cabin on it! I was out there today casting for muskies..my arms are about ready to fall off after 3 1/2 hours of tossing those heavy baits. Had one follow and caught a decent northern.

[FlyingV]

Berretta, Is there a way to private message on this web site? I can't seem to do it.

[beretta]

FlyingV- yes you can. all you have to do is click on my name and then on the bottom of the screen you can click on send a private message.

[FlyingV]

I tried that. Its not "highlighted" and does nothing when I click on it.

I'll contacting the site owner.

[beretta]

Well if you want to you can email me too. its kyle_mlynar at hotmail dot com. whatever is easier for ya.

[Bauer and Standke]

The best thing to do is sand and clean the boat very well you can prime the boat if you want but I have found that the best paint to use is a oil base paint for some reason it seems to last longer I bought my paint from Cabelas. And sprayed it on but you could also roll or brush it on.