Boat Painting?

[Green Machine]

OK guys, the Green Machine could use some painting. The guy I bought it from, for some reason, sanded down all the paint on the windshield, bow, and gun wales and sprayed it with Rhino Lining. When it hit the sun, it faded and started to peel. So, here I came, got a good deal, took off all the Rhino (That was fun!!), and need to re-paint. Who does a good job with aluminum at a decent price? If it is not much more, I'll do the whole boat. Thanks.

[Green Machine]

Anyone have ideas????????? :smile:

Green Machine

[boater]

do it yourself.

[cannonball]

I Know Northwest Jet will repaint it, but its very expensive. You might try a good auto body shop.

Good luck

[RvW]

Tryu doing it yourself, its fun, and pride is a great reward.
Keep the temps in mind and prep the surface well, You'll do fine if you have a garage, you cant be too carefull with overspray...mask it well, and get the cars away!

Avoid self priming paints, prime it the old fashioned way with rustoleum premium auto primer, doesnt usually need wet sanding unless you find shiny spots. (or the dreaded sag)

Theres a product out there called "duplicolor" acrylic lacquer, get a "can gun" which attaches to the rattle can and go for it, use lots of light.

Good luck.

[ 01-17-2003, 09:44 PM: Message edited by: cirrhosis-of-the-river ]

[Walleyed]

I was told that paint over paint is one thing but to paint an unpainted aria to use
zinc ocside as primer.$90 bucks a gal.
The right way always costs more!!!


just what I've been told.

[Green Machine]

OK, thanks. I'll see if I get brave enough this summer, or when it's warmer. How smooth do I need to get the aluminum? Scotch Brite enough?

Green Machine

[Miss B Haven]

Green- I repainted my old Starcraft. I used a no sand epoxy primer and then two part (catalyzed) Polyurethane automotive paint. It went on real easy and smooth, looks great and is tough as nails. It's not cheap but it will last forever and it's a one coat each. I was not down to bare alum. You have to spray the color coat on withing a certain time window of applying the epoxy primer (to avoid sanding it- and it's a real nightmare to sand I guess). I shot the primer on a Sat and then the color on Sun.
It's the same basic paint the used on big yachts (marine apps call it "Linear Polyurathane"). You need a compressor and a fairly good spray gun. A respirator too.
Oh - and Napa told mne that the automotive paint wouldn't work for Marine. I went to another local paint shop and the guys just laughed when I aksed him about that and sold me the paint (Ditzler I believe).

[RvW]

zinc oxide and zinc chromate etch well, and are found in rustoleum primers at good dilutions for aluminum.

scotch brite would be a first step, use TSP (trisodium phosphate) with a scothcbrite pad to clean the surface. Rinse it very well.

use 200 grit (dry) on the entire surface before priming, use 320 (wet) or finer after, and prime again. Lightly wet sand with 1800 before painting.

If you get that far and have not given up...theres a million paint choices you can make depending on time and money and desired results.

Post again when the priming is done.

[DK]

Hi Green Machine, I see your pretty local, i worked in the autobodt industry for 10 years painted two of my own boats and manny other water craft as well as funny car, rails (alunimun) i am currently out of work looking to pay the bills have all the tool if interested let me know, thanks Doug

[Stz ll]

I had my boat painted several years ago at Sportcraft Marina in Oregon City. They did a real nice job and the price was reasonable (at least at the time)

Pete