Painting an Aluminum Boat

Aluminum boats are the most popular choice because of their lightweight and durability. For proper maintenance of the aluminum boat, it is necessary to get it painted. As aluminum is a metallic substance, the task of painting becomes a bit challenging. However, it can be made easy if you know the right skills for painting an aluminum boat.

Preparation of Surface

This is the most vital step of painting an aluminum boat. A good preparation of the surface of the aluminum boat will give you a good paint finish. Place the aluminum boat on a pair of sawhorses in the same way it is kept when in floating condition. When kept in a position above the ground, then working on the boat get easier.

Once it is positioned properly, start with the sanding of the boat. You can use a portable electric sander for this purpose. Or else, a block of wood or a sheet of sandpaper are the other two options available for you. It will be convenient for you to star sanding the inner portion of the boat first and then overturn the boat to sand the exterior portion. Sanding is done to remove all the loosely bound old paints from the surface of the boat. If you find that some amount of paint is left behind, do not bother as it will not affect the paint job. Even the scratches formed as a result of sanding will be covered up once you paint the boat. If you are painting the aluminum boat for the first time, you can skip this step.

After sanding, cleaning the boat thoroughly with soap and water solution is a must. Scrub the body of the boat vigorously with a hard bristled brush to get rid of the debris. Then wash off the boat with a water hose fitted with a power spray. Then the boat has to be dried thoroughly before you apply the paint.

Application of Primer

Select a primer which is suitable for application on metal. Normally, oil-based primer is used on aluminum boats. It is always recommended to mix the primer with a paint thinner in the proportion of one pint into a gallon of primer. This is done to conceal the minor scratches that were caused due to sanding. Primer can be applied with the help of a paint brush, roller or sprayer. To obtain the best results, paint sprayer should be used. Firstly, apply the primer on the inner surface of the boat and let it dry properly. The turn the boat upside down to put primer in the outer walls of the boat. It takes a long time for the primer to dry up completely. Therefore, leave the boat untouched for 10 - 12 hours.

Application of Paint

Whatever the color of the paint you choose, it is obvious you have to use a water-resistant paint. As usual, the paint work should be divided into two sections. Here also spray painting is the right choice, but you can use a roller or a brush if you want. Firstly, apply the aluminum boat paint on the inside part of the boat, let it dry up and then apply the paint coat on the outside the boat. It is advisable to put two coats of paint to obtain the right shade of the chosen color. Then a thorough drying up of the paint is a must before you proceed to the next step of applying a clear coat. It is applied in the same manner as the paint and primer using a sprayer. This is done to ensure protection to the painted surface from scratches and various weather elements. When the clear coat dries up, your boat is ready for use and you can take it into the water.

You can see that painting an aluminum boat is a simple task and it can give an attractive look to the dull and boring aluminum surface of the boat. The best part about painting an aluminum boat is that if you paint it once, it can last for as long as ten years. So go ahead and paint that boat of yours, and get down to enjoying your boating experience tension free and all relaxed.