Painting inside of a boat

[Lake Trout]

Is it worth it to paint the inside of an aluminum boat that has no floor, just bench seats? What I mean is, if the paint will just peel off, I don't want to go through with all the work. I know it will slowly come off like it has to this point, so I expect that in time it will wear off again, just not in "sheets."

1. What kind of paint would be best?

2. Spray or brush on?

3. Primer? What kind?

4. Where to get paint if "specialized?"

5. Same question for a trailer.

Thanks!

[Steve Bakken]

I'll try to answer your questions in the order that you asked them. We do quite a few of these at our shop and there are a few tricks that will prevent those "sheets".

1. Use a two part paint which will have a chemical reaction when mixed and become permanent. Not reversable like when you spill gas on laquer paint and it gets soft and smears.

2. Spray-on looks better, but if you can live with the brush strokes, that will work fine too. Just give it extra time between coats.

3. Use an acid-etching primer. This will chemically bond with the bare aluminum and prevent it from peeling. Just make sure you apply a sealer over it before you paint or it will "bleed" through to your top coat.

4. Any auto body supply store will have what you need.

5. Same answers.

Hope this helps

[Lake Trout]

Thank you very much.

[chris63]

I say buy a galvinized trailer and never ,ever have to worry about paint again.Gravel roads took their toll on our trips to Canada.A galvinized trailer and a rock sheild sure does the trick!c63

[unfrozen]

Had a 14' aluminum boats floor painted with a paint that contained a "non-skid substance". Not sure if the paint contained a type of sand but it worked great. It was a few years ago so don't remember all the details but would imagine something similar is still available today.

Godd Luck

[Weed Shark]

Quote:

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Had a 14' aluminum boats floor painted with a paint that contained a "non-skid substance". Not sure if the paint contained a type of sand but it worked great. It was a few years ago so don't remember all the details but would imagine something similar is still available today.

Godd Luck

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I also like the gray, gritty, non-skid paint. My dad put it in one of our boats in the 70's. I'm still using it.

[cold one sd]

Quote:

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I say buy a galvinized trailer and never ,ever have to worry about paint again.Gravel roads took their toll on our trips to Canada.A galvinized trailer and a rock sheild sure does the trick!c63

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[chris63]

What?

[cold one sd]

Sorry chris63, I thought he was asking about painting the inside of his boat and missed #5. I do agree about the galvanized trailer. I don't have one but would like one. When I bought a new trailer for my 14 foot boat I sprayed it with rock guard and it is holding up well. I don't drive on much gravel though.

[Sergeant Slabber]

I just finished up the same project not to long ago. I painted the inside edges of the boat with an enamel spray paint, about 3-4 light coats. Then I sprayed a clear ackrylic top coat over that, again about 3-4 light coats. For the floor, I used gray Herculiner which I orderd online. Herculiner is a truck bed liner that I've used on a number of different projects and have had very good success with it. I think it turned out well and should last quite awhile. Hope that helps and good luck!