Alright yall. I have seen people paint the boats with everything from house paint and brushes to just literally pouring a gallon on it a smearing it around. The question most ask is what kind of primer should I use? Well I'm no rocket scientist but I may be able to help:
If you don't plan on sanding you boat at all and just covering it up with paint: I wouldn't advise this, lol, its very easy and takes no time to do. But, once you spray primer over your already in need of painting boat, the primer will only adhere to the paint that is already coming off. It's kinda pointless to paint over chipping or peeling paint.
If you plan on sanding you boat just enough to make it smooth but not going allthe way to the metal, that's great. You can use pretty much whatever primer you would like. But, I would prefer to use ACRYLIC ENAMEL, oil based. The reason I say this is because acrylic enamel paint is tough and made for getting beat up and scratched on. Also many auto parts stores can mix your primer already pre thinned and with hardener in it to save you a lot of time. Use acrylic enamel paint as well.
If you plan on going bare all metal to metal like me. You are in for a long patient wait. It's gonna take awhile but the end results are priceless. But, you MUST MUST use an ETCH PRIMER. I've seen guys on here use the rattle cans of Etch but they are expensive about $7.00 a can. One quart is $18.00 at O'reilly's Auto Parts. But, you have to purchase the CATALYST to go with it. CATALYST comes already mixed in the rattle cans, the reason for CATALYST in the etch primer is that: Etch Primer is actually a translucent acid, thats right, it is not paint. The acid is made to bond to bare metal surfaces, the etch primer is what all the aluminum boat manufacturers use. The catalyst is actually an activater for the acid. When etch is combined with the catalyst it creates a chemical reaction, this chemical reaction allows for the etch to actually stick to bare metal and make a smooth surface barrier in which paint can adhere to. Someone ask me to post this about primers so here it is. Maybe this will help them.
If you don't plan on sanding you boat at all and just covering it up with paint: I wouldn't advise this, lol, its very easy and takes no time to do. But, once you spray primer over your already in need of painting boat, the primer will only adhere to the paint that is already coming off. It's kinda pointless to paint over chipping or peeling paint.
If you plan on sanding you boat just enough to make it smooth but not going allthe way to the metal, that's great. You can use pretty much whatever primer you would like. But, I would prefer to use ACRYLIC ENAMEL, oil based. The reason I say this is because acrylic enamel paint is tough and made for getting beat up and scratched on. Also many auto parts stores can mix your primer already pre thinned and with hardener in it to save you a lot of time. Use acrylic enamel paint as well.
If you plan on going bare all metal to metal like me. You are in for a long patient wait. It's gonna take awhile but the end results are priceless. But, you MUST MUST use an ETCH PRIMER. I've seen guys on here use the rattle cans of Etch but they are expensive about $7.00 a can. One quart is $18.00 at O'reilly's Auto Parts. But, you have to purchase the CATALYST to go with it. CATALYST comes already mixed in the rattle cans, the reason for CATALYST in the etch primer is that: Etch Primer is actually a translucent acid, thats right, it is not paint. The acid is made to bond to bare metal surfaces, the etch primer is what all the aluminum boat manufacturers use. The catalyst is actually an activater for the acid. When etch is combined with the catalyst it creates a chemical reaction, this chemical reaction allows for the etch to actually stick to bare metal and make a smooth surface barrier in which paint can adhere to. Someone ask me to post this about primers so here it is. Maybe this will help them.
