dyeguy1212
Well-known member
As I prepare to start my mods, I'm really considering painting my 1648 when it gets warm enough. From what I can tell, one of the previous owners hit the boat with a tan spray bomb, which is holding up decently, but some spots need some work. If I'm going to paint it, I want to do it right the first time, and use something that lasts.
This is where the brain storming comes in. I was planning to use steel flex on the bottom, and up about 5 inches on the sides and transom. Then a topside paint would go on above the steelflex line, to the bottom of the gunwales. Then I was going to do the gunwales in steelflex as well.
I'm not looking for something to seal the boat, I'm just looking for something tough. My gunwales take a beating when tied to docks, and the bottom of the boat sees a lot of wear from beaching it, and trailering it during every outing. As I do more research, I hear steelflex isnt as tough as I had assumed. I have experience with topside paint, and its nothing to write home about in that department either. So what do I use?
Bedliner and stuff like that is out of the question. Previous owner put some nonskid paint on the gunwales, and while it does hold up decently, it tends to bubble out if you get a chip. So break the seal (of paint), and its game over. Plus I don't like the looks of it.
So can anyone recommend something? Ugly boats aren't my thing, and doing work only to have it chip away isn't my cup of tea either.
Let the brainstorming begin!
This is where the brain storming comes in. I was planning to use steel flex on the bottom, and up about 5 inches on the sides and transom. Then a topside paint would go on above the steelflex line, to the bottom of the gunwales. Then I was going to do the gunwales in steelflex as well.
I'm not looking for something to seal the boat, I'm just looking for something tough. My gunwales take a beating when tied to docks, and the bottom of the boat sees a lot of wear from beaching it, and trailering it during every outing. As I do more research, I hear steelflex isnt as tough as I had assumed. I have experience with topside paint, and its nothing to write home about in that department either. So what do I use?
Bedliner and stuff like that is out of the question. Previous owner put some nonskid paint on the gunwales, and while it does hold up decently, it tends to bubble out if you get a chip. So break the seal (of paint), and its game over. Plus I don't like the looks of it.
So can anyone recommend something? Ugly boats aren't my thing, and doing work only to have it chip away isn't my cup of tea either.
Let the brainstorming begin!