How to Paint Your Aluminum Boat.
It's been chili for the past few months, but it's starting to warm up and it's almost time to get back out on the water, and you can't wait. You can't wait to be out in the sun with your loved ones on your brand new boat. Wait a minute, what's that, you say that you have a boat but it's no where close to brand new?
Well don't worry about that, your boat is great, your boat is strong, and with a few quick tips, your old aluminum boat can look brand new again. This is a guide to painting you aluminum boat. First things first, wether painting the interior or the exterior of your boat, the process will be done the same. The first thing that you will want to do is clean that puppy up, wipe it down, degrease it, remove anything that will interfere with the paint you will be applying. You will also want to scrape and sand off any paint from the boat that is peeling off from previous paint jobs. Some people choose to use a paint stripper to remove all the previous paint from the boat, but this is not required to make you boat pop like you want it to.
The next thing that you will want to do (which I highly recommend) is to use some form of acid etch wash, which will prepare the aluminum to accept the paint or primer. Failure to prepare the aluminum properly this way will make it rather difficult for any paint or primer to stick properly and permanently to your boat. You can make your own solution that will suffice, by combining 50% vinegar and 50 % water, and make sure to rinse the boat after this and before painting. You will then want to apply an aluminum friendly primer before adding the actual paint, creating a solid foundation for the paint to be applied to.
After this, based on which part of your boat that you are painting, will determine what type of boat paint you will need. For paint that will be submerged beneath the waterline, I suggest using anti-fouling paint. There are also a number of other marine specific paints that you can use, and with a little effort are very easy to find. When beginning the actual paint job, part of it is just jump right in (not literally) and paint it.
I suggest a foam roller for the bulk of it(just like anything else), and a regular paintbrush for the nooks and crannies. Be careful with touch ups, sometimes with these paints it can do more harm than good, and then add as many coats as it takes.
Well don't worry about that, your boat is great, your boat is strong, and with a few quick tips, your old aluminum boat can look brand new again. This is a guide to painting you aluminum boat. First things first, wether painting the interior or the exterior of your boat, the process will be done the same. The first thing that you will want to do is clean that puppy up, wipe it down, degrease it, remove anything that will interfere with the paint you will be applying. You will also want to scrape and sand off any paint from the boat that is peeling off from previous paint jobs. Some people choose to use a paint stripper to remove all the previous paint from the boat, but this is not required to make you boat pop like you want it to.
The next thing that you will want to do (which I highly recommend) is to use some form of acid etch wash, which will prepare the aluminum to accept the paint or primer. Failure to prepare the aluminum properly this way will make it rather difficult for any paint or primer to stick properly and permanently to your boat. You can make your own solution that will suffice, by combining 50% vinegar and 50 % water, and make sure to rinse the boat after this and before painting. You will then want to apply an aluminum friendly primer before adding the actual paint, creating a solid foundation for the paint to be applied to.
After this, based on which part of your boat that you are painting, will determine what type of boat paint you will need. For paint that will be submerged beneath the waterline, I suggest using anti-fouling paint. There are also a number of other marine specific paints that you can use, and with a little effort are very easy to find. When beginning the actual paint job, part of it is just jump right in (not literally) and paint it.
I suggest a foam roller for the bulk of it(just like anything else), and a regular paintbrush for the nooks and crannies. Be careful with touch ups, sometimes with these paints it can do more harm than good, and then add as many coats as it takes.