Paint a Boat?

[TOO EZ]

How hard is it to Paint a Boat?

I think --------> I <---------- want to TRY and paint my CC Hull over the winter. Heck- I might even tow it home this weekend and try my luck at it.

Anyone ever do this?

[noobie]

Krylon Touch!

[FishHawk]

Ahhhhh, painting a boat. Depends... Are you reapplying a gelcoat or are you considering a urethane enamel such as car/truck paint? Application doesn't vary much. Preperation isn't "too" far off either. I've sprayed enamels in the past but have never applied a gelcoat although I am familiar with the process.

Gelcoat:pro:consistent with current boat finish, can be "spotted in" and buffed out for minor repairs providing color match is not an issue. Easier to "repair" of scratches with wetsanding and buffing. Cons:expensive as hell and a little tougher to apply (my thought due to less experience with it). Color match can be an issue with some boats that have had prolonged exposure to being in the water.
Enamel:pros:easier to mix small quantities for spot repairs, less expensive to buy small amounts, a little easier on the prep and application. Cons:colormatch, colormatch, colormatch. Most of the major auto paint suppliers (DuPont, PPG, etc) do NOT list marine tints. Can't really be spotted in and remain effective.

Also different characteristcs of cured products in terms of flex and scratch resistance. Wow, I'm trying not to fill up 86 pages of details on this but just trying to give you some basics. Do you have an HVLP gun and an air compressor? Are you looking for an "overall" paint job or trying to create an "accent" down the side? Lotsa questions, are you really THAT bored on the weekends? ;D

p.s. the sandpaper (which you will need ALOT of) and the tape and masking paper, and the cleansing agents prior to finish application are liable to run you as much as the material to be sprayed. We're not talking thousands of dollars but don't be surprised to spend $300-500 in pre-and post- application supllies before you actually buy the materials to be sprayed...

[TOO EZ]

Ahh....

Uhhhh....

Ok - Here is where my head is at.

I have an 18' Wellcraft CC Sportfisher that needs some minor work.
- Some bumps and bruises that has gone thru the gelcoat
- Bad bottom
- Rub rail needs to be replaced.

I was thinking about removing the old bottom paint via Soda Blasting.

I was going to remove the rub rail and replace w/ new.

I was going to try my luck on Fiberglass repair also

Once all that was done - I was thinking about painting the Hull like an Ice Blue. Color you would see on the new Topaz models.

Once that is done - Then I'm toying w/ the idea of a T-Top but, that is later.

So... I have the facility for this. We have a Large air comp, gun, etc.. and even an area that we can tape off and use as a paint booth if need be.

I thought I could use like 80-100 grit and sand down the hull, apply Acetone to clean it, Prime it, Sand it, Prime it, Sand it, Shoot it.

OH BOY!

[FishHawk]

Ryan, you got mail at fence and comcast...

[don]

Ryan, The prep is the important part. I had my Sou'Wester painted with Awlgrip 5 years ago.
Looked 100% better and the stuff wears like iron. Still looks good for a 25 year old boat. Interlux makes a couple of really high quality finishes in addition to awlgrip and the prep instructions are in the interlux web site.

[FishHawk]

Let me backtrack: are you thinking of painting the standard waterline area or the WHOLE hull? Waterline should be no problem, an "overall" is a little diff...

[joc]

For bottom paint removal, there's a guy here in Cecil called The Sandman. I think he's about $12/ft and a small boat like that won't take him long. That price was a couple yrs ago, so it's probably more now. But when he's done, it's ready for barrier coat or paint. I don't know the first thing about paint, but I do know a guy that does nice custom graphics as a sideline. A couple yrs ago he did Cal Ripkin's boat. Does custom bikes and such.