advise on paint and floor for aluminum boat

[matthothand]

I have a 14' Lund that I would like to remodel. Does anyone know what the best type of paint is that would hold up and not chip. I also want to coat every inch of aluminum IN the boat with something that won't chip...I was thinking about checking out the spray on liners that you would find for a truck bed. I've already made removeable carpeted flooring but the rest of the interior needs to be renovated. Anybody have any ideas on how I can spruce up my rig?

[Slyster]

I redid an icky old 14' Lund.. and I love it now! Used from Menards (Farm Pro or something like that) fire engine Red Paint and outdoor carpet. Put the battery in the bench and decked the boat with treated wood (gas tank up front under deck).. added lights and wired everything in tight. GREAT winter project. I can stand up on the deck no problem too (beware wakes and large waves though)

Some pix

[matthothand]

That is pretty much the exact layout I want to create but I'm having troubles on the deck construction and where to put everything...mainly the livewell. Right now I have pieces of flooring I made and carpeted but the bench seats are still there. I want to level it all out and use the benches as storage, livewell, etc. but weight seems to be a big issue. Could you describe the basic layout of the deck you built? Yours turned out very nice and made your boat much more appealing and practical. I would like to accomplish the same.

[fivebucks]

I don't have anything to add except I heard that the new treated lumber will corrode alum. so it is best not to use treated lumber. There have been numerous posts on this topic so if you do a search you will find a bunch of info. Nicely redone boat by the way!

[Slyster]

This should help... my photos of the project as it went down.

More was done the next spring.. lights and carpeting on the aluminum floor etc..

Click the small pics to enlarge.

http://www.slyster.com/fm/boatmod/page_01.htm

[kenlaker]

Nice job, I have an old 16' starcraft that I did some similar stuff to, but am planning on doing again after many years. Wondering what livewell others have used. Also in reply to the treated lumber, the new treatment is ACQ, and is very corrosive to aluminum. The old treatment was CCA and is still allowed for some uses, plywood may be one of them, as I know it (CCA) is still available for wood basement stud use. The type of treating agent used should be stamped on the sheet.

[Slyster]

I didn't do a live well... not enough room in my boat and too heavy already.

[matthothand]

Thanks so much for the pics showing the progression of the project. Hope you don't mind if I somewhat copy your design. I do still plan on putting in a live well and wonder if anyone has any tips on that. I know I can find more info in the archives on this too. I plan on using either aluminum or fiberglass composite for the tank and already have all of the other components of a livewell...just need to build the tank and surrounding deck. Also I'm not sure where to put the hole through my boat for water intake or overflow.

[Slyster]

My front section holds the gas tank, and middle section just storage (mostly for toys for the kiddies!) so that could easily be a livewell area.. there's lots of room in there. You could put holes anywhere I'd guess as long as you use the right valves parts grommits whater.. but really I don't know about them.

[Valv]

If you need livewells, plumbing, fuel tanks, etc let me know.

Check my web site and/or contact me from it and I'll show what I have.

[Slyster]

Another note for my boat mod....

Last summer (have no pix) I cust out out a large chunk of aluminum in back of the bench in front of my feat... and put in a lure locker type deal! Holds three large plano boxes.. just enough for what I use on an outting.. so NO boxes lying around anywhere. Loved that one. Any extras (line etc) I keep stowed in the middle compartment.

Also.. the front seat is low as you can see.. great for anyway young or old, but the middle seat has a tall pedestil (sp?) so it's a high seat. Tippy, but great for me alone on calm days. Of course, then I can't contol the boat in anyway. But fun none the less. I usually remove ALL seats buy the one in the read when I fish alone and stand on the deck when anchored or drifting.

Geeze I miss fishing already. Feels like it's been months when it's just been 3 weeks since I put the boat away.

[matthothand]

I was wondering how tippy it would be on that deck. Great idea with the cut-out for storage. I'm slowly buying the supplies I need to complete this project so it's not such a blow to my wallet in a month or so when I get going strong on it. The deck seems like a task I can handle pretty well, thanks to your help slyster, but the live well is gonna require some more thought.

[beeonkey]

If you want paint to stick on aluminum you need to go to your local automotive paint dealer and get Aluminum etch. PPG is the one I usually use. You need to really clean the boat with a pressure washer and degrease it the best you can. Maybe even use wax and grease remover for automotive finishes. Then etch it and use automotive paint with a hardener. It costs but stays put. You could really spend the money on epoxy paint but that may be over kill. If your going to want a shine remember anything under must be mint before you paint. That’s final sanding with 320 or finer. I have painted many boats and even in spots where your feet maybe all the time stays good for a long time. I would only prime where you want it to shine.

Ask the paint guys at the paint store and they will set you up with product that all works together. I wouldn’t put bed liner on. It’s too thick and will most likely crack with the boat flexing and twisting.