How to paint an aluminum boat

Aluminum is perhaps the perfect material for boat building, especially fishing. Aluminum is lightweight, durable and easy to work with. But like most metals, it can be difficult to paint. The trick for aluminum paint is in the preparation. A clean surface and suitable materials are the key.

You will need to:

Hard Bristle Brush
Cube
Soapy water
water from the hose
Electric sander
large rolls of paper or plastic
Primer for metal
Paint thinner
Painting
Paint sprayer

Steps to follow:

one

Place the aluminum boat on the two trestles. Getting the boat lifted allows you to work all the way around the boat much better than it could if it were on the ground. The initial position of the boat in the trestles is not important, although it may be easier if the bottom of the boat is in the trestles, with the interior area of the boat up.

two

Sand the boat completely . This step is necessary only if you will repaint an aluminum can that had a previous layer of paint. You can do this with a block of wood and a sheet of normal sandpaper, but the most effective method is to use an electric sander. Sand the entire surface of the boat, inside and out. Do not worry if you can not remove 100 percent of the paint. And do not worry about scratching the metal with the sander, because these scratches will be invisible later and actually offer a larger surface area for the paint to adhere to. It may be easier to sand the inside of the boat first, then sand the boat outside on the trestle.

3

Wash the boat . Fill the bucket with soap and water, and use a stiff bristle brush to scrub the boat down. Rub the boat as hard as possible to remove the residue caused by sanding. Rinse the boat with a water hose, preferably one with a feed nozzle. Let the boat dry completely

4

Put paper or plastic on the floor of your work area. Everything that can be damaged by the paint must be removed from the immediate area, and other objects must be covered by paper or plastic. Open all available windows, and use electric fans to provide ventilation.

5

Apply a primer to the boat. For best results, use an oil-based primer made for metal use. You can lighten the primer by mixing one liter of paint thinner in one gallon of primer. You can use brushes or rollers, but you will achieve a cleaner and even finish if you use a paint sprayer to apply the paint. Start by spraying the interior of the boat, allowing it to dry, then turn the boat to apply the primer to the outside. Allow the primer to dry several hours before beginning to paint.

6

Paint the aluminum boat of the color of your choice with a water-resistant paint. Again, it will be much easier to paint the first half of the boat, let it dry, then turn the boat to paint the other half. You may have to apply two layers to obtain the desired color. Allow the paint to dry completely.

7

Apply a clear coat. The varnish is sprayed on the boat in the same way as priming and painting. The transparent layer provides protection against the elements and against scratching, and will give the boat a freshly painted appearance. But it will also make the boat a little bright, so you could skip this step if you are going to use the boat for hunting.

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