Shoedawg
Well-known member
Not trying to beat a dead horse here, but I am having a difficult time understanding the steps and process of painting the exterior bottom of my boat. I have spent hours upon hours searching the forum, as well as other sites, and still don’t have a clear idea of how to properly do it. We need a painting guide on here, which I am willing to write up as I do my boat.
So I am going to beat that dead horse. This is what I am looking and wanting to do with my boat. Bear with me; I have a lot to ask.
Goals/Questions:
1. I would like a good “all around” protection for the bottom of the boat. I am in the military, and get stationed all around the U.S. I may be using the boat in rivers/lakes that are different from other parts of the country (i.e. mud flats, rocky rivers, stumpy lakes, vegetation, etc), so a good all-around protection is what I would like to see.
2. Steelfex/Gluv-it: I have read about these both, and I think my boat has no leaks, BUT I still need to do a “water leak test”. Do I really need Steelflex/Gluvit? I have read about the cons and pros. I am leaning AWAY from using it. Convince me otherwise.
3. I plan on using a HPLV sprayer. This will save me time. I don’t want a cheap one, but not an expensive one either. I have heard good things and some bad about Wagner. Plus I intend to use the sprayer for other projects. Any suggestions on what you use or own?
4. Primers. I know I need to use self-etching primer and have seen the suggestions. My question is do I lightly fog the first coat of primer, let it dry, then sand with a light grit, then wipe clean (with acetone/tack cloth)? What grit size? (320, or higher?) After the first coat do I apply a second light coat, and repeat the steps above?
5. Paint type. Oil or water based? What is the best for average usage for a boat that is used in freshwater only? Does it even matter?
6. Clear coat. Does a clear coat help protect the bottom paint on a boat from some minor scratching? I know there are Matte clear coats available from various manufactures. Do you guys suggest using a clear coat?
7. Steps for painting. I plan on stripping the entire exterior of the boat down to bare aluminum. I understand that a good prep job is the key for a good finish.
Is this the proper way to paint the exterior of the boat from start to finish?
1. Strip the old paint off with a chemical stripper
2. Wash/scrub/rinse the boat with soap and water.
3. Let dry
4. Use a degreaser (Simple Green) or Acetone and wipe the boat down
5. Scuff the boat up. What grit size is recommended to get good teeth marks to hold the primer?
6. After scuffing, Wash/scrub/rinse the boat with soap and water.
7. Let dry.
8. Wipe again with Simple Green/Acetone.
9. Use a Aluminum cleaner (Such as TSP) before applying first coat of primer
10. Rinse cleaner and allow to dry.
11. Apply first coat of primer. This would be a fog coat, very light.
12. Let dry.
13. Sand lightly the first coat of primer.
14. Wipe with acetone/tack cloth
15. Apply a second coat of primer.
16. Let Dry.
17. Sand again, lightly.
18. Wipe again.
19. Let Dry
20. Add a third coat of primer
21. Let dry (no more sanding after this)
22. Add the first coat of paint very lightly.
23. Let Dry
24. Sand lightly the first coat and repeat the procedure same as the Primer coat for the additional coats of paint.
25. After all coats of paint are done, add several coats of Matte clear coat to help protect the paint.
Sorry for the long post, but I need some clear suggestions and methods. If I can get enough input from everyone, that would be AWESOME-SAUCE! I want to write up a step-by-step painting guide (with pictures) to help others later on when they face this decision, while doing my boat.
Thanks in advance.
So I am going to beat that dead horse. This is what I am looking and wanting to do with my boat. Bear with me; I have a lot to ask.
Goals/Questions:
1. I would like a good “all around” protection for the bottom of the boat. I am in the military, and get stationed all around the U.S. I may be using the boat in rivers/lakes that are different from other parts of the country (i.e. mud flats, rocky rivers, stumpy lakes, vegetation, etc), so a good all-around protection is what I would like to see.
2. Steelfex/Gluv-it: I have read about these both, and I think my boat has no leaks, BUT I still need to do a “water leak test”. Do I really need Steelflex/Gluvit? I have read about the cons and pros. I am leaning AWAY from using it. Convince me otherwise.
3. I plan on using a HPLV sprayer. This will save me time. I don’t want a cheap one, but not an expensive one either. I have heard good things and some bad about Wagner. Plus I intend to use the sprayer for other projects. Any suggestions on what you use or own?
4. Primers. I know I need to use self-etching primer and have seen the suggestions. My question is do I lightly fog the first coat of primer, let it dry, then sand with a light grit, then wipe clean (with acetone/tack cloth)? What grit size? (320, or higher?) After the first coat do I apply a second light coat, and repeat the steps above?
5. Paint type. Oil or water based? What is the best for average usage for a boat that is used in freshwater only? Does it even matter?
6. Clear coat. Does a clear coat help protect the bottom paint on a boat from some minor scratching? I know there are Matte clear coats available from various manufactures. Do you guys suggest using a clear coat?
7. Steps for painting. I plan on stripping the entire exterior of the boat down to bare aluminum. I understand that a good prep job is the key for a good finish.
Is this the proper way to paint the exterior of the boat from start to finish?
1. Strip the old paint off with a chemical stripper
2. Wash/scrub/rinse the boat with soap and water.
3. Let dry
4. Use a degreaser (Simple Green) or Acetone and wipe the boat down
5. Scuff the boat up. What grit size is recommended to get good teeth marks to hold the primer?
6. After scuffing, Wash/scrub/rinse the boat with soap and water.
7. Let dry.
8. Wipe again with Simple Green/Acetone.
9. Use a Aluminum cleaner (Such as TSP) before applying first coat of primer
10. Rinse cleaner and allow to dry.
11. Apply first coat of primer. This would be a fog coat, very light.
12. Let dry.
13. Sand lightly the first coat of primer.
14. Wipe with acetone/tack cloth
15. Apply a second coat of primer.
16. Let Dry.
17. Sand again, lightly.
18. Wipe again.
19. Let Dry
20. Add a third coat of primer
21. Let dry (no more sanding after this)
22. Add the first coat of paint very lightly.
23. Let Dry
24. Sand lightly the first coat and repeat the procedure same as the Primer coat for the additional coats of paint.
25. After all coats of paint are done, add several coats of Matte clear coat to help protect the paint.
Sorry for the long post, but I need some clear suggestions and methods. If I can get enough input from everyone, that would be AWESOME-SAUCE! I want to write up a step-by-step painting guide (with pictures) to help others later on when they face this decision, while doing my boat.
Thanks in advance.