Camo for a Fiberglass boat

[AugustMoose87]

I found a steal on a fiberglass boat on e-bay earlier this summer, and I have been tinkering with the idea of converting it into a duck boat, since all the water I boat hunt is big water (so I'm not worried about the draft or weight or anything).

So it is already green, but I was looking at options for making it camo. Originally I was leaning towards CamoClad or something similar, but a)its expensive and b)the permanent type recommends professional install.

As I was trolling the internet looking to toys I don't need, I came across a site where a guy have built a wood boat, fiberglassed over that, and then used camo cloth and resin on top of the fiberglass. How hard would that be for a newbie??? I was thinking of getting some of the camo burlap and some resin and doing it that way. I know it won't look as sharp as the CamoClad would, but it fits the budget ALOT better...

Any other methods, tips or suggestions are more than welcome.

 

[ben2go]

To coat the boat 1/16th inch thick in epoxy is going to take about 15 gallons of epoxy for a 16 foot boat.Burlap will soak up a lot of epoxy and possibly double the amount needed to cover the hull.I recently priced epoxy and it averages $130 per gallon for the epoxy and hardener.

 

[AugustMoose87]

To coat the boat 1/16th inch thick in epoxy is going to take about 15 gallons of epoxy for a 16 foot boat.Burlap will soak up a lot of epoxy and possibly double the amount needed to cover the hull.I recently priced epoxy and it averages $130 per gallon for the epoxy and hardener.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

I guess i didn't realize it would take take much... I guess the CamoClad may be the best way to go...

 

[SlimeTime]

There are some members here who've done some excellent camo paintjobs, hopefully they'll post their methods. That'd be your cheapest/best way.

ST

 

[Jim]

:WELCOME: AugustMoose87

Thanks for joining! :beer:

I agree the cheapest neatest way to go would be the camoClad.

 

[dedawg1149]

welcome i agree with slime time i would paint it then if you scratch it up you can simply touch it up

 

[ben2go]

Paint is the cheapest and you could make up some leaf and limb stenciles.There was a thread with a how to on this subject.Just scuff up the gel coat with a scotch bright pad.Green pad would probably work pretty good.

 

[AugustMoose87]

Paint is the cheapest and you could make up some leaf and limb stenciles.There was a thread with a how to on this subject.Just scuff up the gel coat with a scotch bright pad.Green pad would probably work pretty good.

:? yea, about that gel-coat... I don't have any experience with fiberglass boats, but I'm 95% sure there isn't a gel coat on this boat anymore... Any easy way to "test" so I know for sure??

 

[ben2go]

Paint is the cheapest and you could make up some leaf and limb stenciles.There was a thread with a how to on this subject.Just scuff up the gel coat with a scotch bright pad.Green pad would probably work pretty good.

:? yea, about that gel-coat... I don't have any experience with fiberglass boats, but I'm 95% sure there isn't a gel coat on this boat anymore... Any easy way to "test" so I know for sure??

Gel coat is what gives the hull it's color.Most small boats are white or yellow.Fishing boats are sometimes blue or black.Really depends on the manufacture and what tickles there happy place for that year.

 

[SlimeTime]

If you decide to paint, use some Comet or Ajax scouring powder along with your ScotchBrite pad, rinse well.

ST

 

[Quackrstackr]

There are readily available camo stencils that will make your boat look just like the ones being turned out at the factories.

Styx River and Reelfoot Custom Camo both offer them. I have painted one of my own with a set of MOSG Reelfoot stencils and it honestly looks better than the factory job on my Triton.

 

[AugustMoose87]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions so far.

If you decide to paint, use some Comet or Ajax scouring powder along with your ScotchBrite pad, rinse well.

ST

Is that about the extent of prep-work?? Or should I consider any degree of sanding and or priming?? And if so, are there fiber-glass specific primers, or will standard primer work?

 

[SlimeTime]

As long as the existing surface is free from chips & cracks, you'll be good to go after a good scuffing. Priming could depend on existing color, and the color you plan to apply.....but still doubtful you'd need to prime the entire hull. Primer will be just another coat of material to cause a problem.

ST

 

[AugustMoose87]

Kinda what I was thinking. the hull is green, so I'm not too worried about putting camo over that. And I already have some stencils I bought to work on the jon boat (my current duck rig), so that's taken care of. Not I just need to go out and get some paint.. And for the rain to stop... :evil:

I know this is like the 17th questions, but any particular brands of paint anyone can suggest?? I have a Hunters Specialty 4 pack of camo spray paint I'll do the camo in, but whats a good choice for a base layer??

 

[ben2go]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions so far.

If you decide to paint, use some Comet or Ajax scouring powder along with your ScotchBrite pad, rinse well.

ST

Is that about the extent of prep-work?? Or should I consider any degree of sanding and or priming?? And if so, are there fiber-glass specific primers, or will standard primer work?

The scotch bright and scouring powder will scuff the surface enough for paint or primer.

As long as the existing surface is free from chips & cracks, you'll be good to go after a good scuffing. Priming could depend on existing color, and the color you plan to apply.....but still doubtful you'd need to prime the entire hull. Primer will be just another coat of material to cause a problem.

ST

I agree with ST on this,also.

 

[SlimeTime]

I know this is like the 17th questions, but any particular brands of paint anyone can suggest?? I have a Hunters Specialty 4 pack of camo spray paint I'll do the camo in, but whats a good choice for a base layer??

Something similar to what you have. If it's enamel, use enamel. Follow instructions (regarding re-coat) as if your camo was the 2nd coat, meaning don't wait too long to apply the camo or you'll have to scuff it again.

ST

 

[fowlmood77]

Spray paint and homemade stencils.
Can't remember the brand. I just got what colors I thought would work best. Use a flat clearcoat for extra protection.

Here are some others
https://www.duckhuntingchat.com/viewtopic.php?t=68588&highlight=paint
https://www.duckhuntingchat.com/viewtopic.php?t=63324

Or you can hand paint it like this guy. Took him 60 hrs, but looks better than any other job I have seen. Here is a link to a pic of his motor, the rest of the pics of his boat are gone. There is also a link further down the post showing how he did a shotgun step by step.
https://www.duckhuntingchat.com/viewtopic.php?t=65515&highlight=paint

Just remember that just cause it looks good to the human eye doesn't really mean that much to the animal you are trying to hide from. The main thing is to break up the outline of your boat. Also your paint job is going to only be as good as your prep job.

 

[SlimeTime]

Also your paint job is going to only be as good as your prep job.

If it was a bad job.....how could you tell?? It's camo :wink: :mrgreen:

ST

 

[njredneck3]

i am currently working on my first duck boat its only a 10' jon i painted flat brown from a camo paint kit and with the shadow grass i am going to use you wont see too much of the boat good luck with your project

 

[shadow]

Welcome August,great site here ,i used pop cartons and krylon paint for my stencils and they turned out pretty good but you saw that on hawgz I am sure