I've been researching on the internet for about a month now and I keep getting different answers. I've got an old aluminum boat that I bought for cheap and I want to paint it for duck hunting. I'm not worried about camouflages at this point, but rather just getting a good base layer of paint on it to cover the reflective silver that it has now.
I think I'm going to need to prime it first, then paint it but no one is giving me a straight answer on what primer and paints to use. Ie: can I just use any paint or spray paint I want like Cabelas sells Parker duck boat paint?
Do a search on here. a lot of good info. you need some type of self etching primer for aluminum. been discussed many time but I can not remember specific brands
I used regular rustoleum primer and paint. Seems to be holding up well. I used spray cans though which didn't go well. You can spray the primer but brush/roll the top coat.
No prob. I'm very pleased with how it worked out. When I bought the windshield I assumed I was going to have to fabricate something to fill in the space between the flat windshield and my curved deck. I was ecstatic when I put it up there and saw that just by bowing it out a bit it conformed to the curve almost perfectly and the perfectly with the help of a few mounting screws.
It don't Look It anymore,...
But I painted my 74 Starcraft Islander back around the turn of the century,......
I shot it with a Quality Automotive paint, over Primer from the same outfit,....
I only primed the Raw Aluminum with Zinc Cromate where needed,+ regular Primer over the sanded original paint.......
It's still holding up Real Good,..... And the Paint that's still there Looks Great,.......
But Nothing would stand up the the Massive,+ Severe Dock Rash it got last year in the Big Blow.........
For a Duckboat, if you're Brushing or Rolling, or even Spraying,.....
Rustolium is a Great Answer,......
I see they've come out with their own Zinc Primer for Raw Aluminum now......
__________________ Any Grease is Better,..... Than No Grease at All.......
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Just finished painting an aluminum 14' Mirrocraft deep V. Acid etch primer in & out, automotive base/clear on top. Can't speak to longevity yet, but the finish came out perfect.