Aluminum Boat Paint
For those that love taking care of their aluminum boats- or refurbishing boats- or even if you build your own boats using some of your favorite aluminum boat plans - using the best possible aluminum boat paint should probably be of top priority to you.
There are a few different aspects of aluminum boat paint- and some great idea's and tip's and ideas for painting for your boat.
I wanted to provide you with some excellent tips for using aluminum boat paints - and some easy to follow preparation steps for painting your aluminum boat as well.
Aluminum Boat Preparation- BEFORE You Paint
When it comes to painting- whether its a house , boat or a vehicle- PREPARATION IS KEY. Its the first step and everything else will show anything and everything not taken care of in this particular process.
I prefer setting the aluminum boat on some saw horses - set it on the horses so that you can easily get to ALL area's and the entire surface. If its small enough set it upside down- that way it will set on the horses easily - and stay balanced.
After this, its time to wipe down the aluminum boat. Because the best aluminum boat paint is NOT WATER based, wipe the boat down with a clean , mineral spirits soaked rage to try to get all the excess paint and dirt off of your boat. Make this a quick process- as you will be wiping the aluminum boat again- after sanding. I just prefer this because I like to start with a clean surface area.
Let set- and dry after this.
Sanding The Aluminum Boat Surface
If you have an electric sander- thats fine , go ahead and use it- if not use a block or even just a sheet of sand paper. I always use 80 grit at first- then finish it off with a 100 or depending on the finish- you could even use 120 grit. Great way to paint wooden boats, you can make that decision based on the age of the boat or how many times the boat has been painted- if it has been painted at all.
After that, wipe it down again. Wipe the aluminum boat down thoroughly- we do not want ANYTHING left on our boat what so ever.
Priming The Aluminum Boat
Now, there are several different types of primer- boat you must choose a metal primer that is specially created for aluminum- and aluminum boats in general.
After selecting the correct metal primer- its time to prime your aluminum boat correctly.
Personally, I always use a sprayer to apply the primer AND the paint. This will leave your boat with the smoothest finish possible. But if you do not have one and buying one is not an option- then a brush and small roller will do just find.
So tape off the steering wheel and cover the seats first and anything else that you dont want paint on and prime the inside of the boat first. After you prime the inside , give the boat a minute to dry and flip it over on the saw horse.
Even apply the metal primer over the entire area. One coat should be good- make sure you have everything covered and again, let dry.
Application Of Finish Coat Paint To Your Aluminum Boat
OK- now, just like the primer coat, you will start on the inside of your aluminum boat. Like i said, a sprayer would be the best option, the paint sprayer will just leave a much better finish- the finish left behind with a sprayer is smooth, beautiful and really leaves us with a fantastic feeling of accomplishment.
Do the inside, and let it dry. turn your aluminum boat over and paint the outside/bottom. Once you have finished your aluminum about, you should see a fully covered paint job. Remember, when you are painting the boat, make sure that everything is covering completely and evenly.
PS - Tip For Brush and Rolling
If you do bruch and roll, use nothing bigger than a quarter to half inch roller nap. Keep the roller FULL OF PAINT. This will ensure that the coverage is complete and solid.
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