[Tackle Box]

I'm interested in painting my plain aluminum boat camo. How should i prep for paint? What kind of paint should i use? How do i apply a pattern? What patterns are recomended? I have access to a paint booth with heat, paint gun, ect.... I have done a little auto painting, just never have done any camo painting. I'm looking for durability and a nice look. If there are tips and tricks i would like to hear of them.

[Gar Tackle]

Hay!I paint cars for a living.I camoed my boat that I musky fish from fish come much closer to boat without spooking.I've fished in factory painted boats and camo painted camo much better.Now if you got large boat the fun part is setting it up for painting upside down.You can go the long dallor with alum.prep and conversion coat all products are PPG paint product.Don't let my father know he's a DuPont automotive refinsh Exs.back to the paint job.If you can keep the dirty little fingers off when you sand,use latex gloves.Sand with 320 sand paper on DA. Scotch brite with red scotch brite where youcan't sand.If you don't toch you will not have to alum.prep. Wash with 330 prep grease and wax remover. Use a dp50 black sealer on the hole boat this sealer will lock on and make a good base PPG has a army camo chart at the local PPG dealer.Buy the olive green,camo baige and one other color you like with the black base you whot need but maybe a pint of these colors In dcc colors with DX-11 or DX-7 hardner it's 1 to 1 to1/2 reduction.With low air presser turn the patteron in or to a round shape.Then have fun there is reliy no set patteron if you cut out leaves I think that looks tacky but it's up to you.just make different shaps you'll get the hang of it as you go.If you lived in mich. I do it for you.I know you can do it.you said you've got a little car oainting behide you go for it. good luck Gene @ Gar Tackle

[Gar Tackle]

Hay this is Gene at Gar Tackle my e-mail got changed today.If you need any other help with the paint job I can be e-mailed at Gartackle1@aol.com The e-mail changed by the #1 behind the name.hope my theiry helps Gene

[Tackle Box]

Hay Gar Tackle, Thanks for the replys.There is some good information I have got from you. The paint I ues is PPG a very good product. I'm not sure when I'm going to tackel this job but I think it will be fun. I'm still doing some resurch on differant product, patterns,and preps. I have found some realy cool sites. Go to your start page and type in your search (Camo Painting) and you will find Military Vehicle Camouflage Patterns, WW2 painting guid. Camoguns by goose and Camouflage spray paint for sportman.There is alot of good information .This is something one should look at if their thinking of camo painting. I plan on staying around on this board for quite some time. There is a lot of neat freindly people who like to help. I'm still new on this board and I will help all I can. I will catch you around. Thank's again.

[fill ur limit]

Hi Tackle Box thought I would give you another option that we have used over the years and has worked pretty good the only way that the paint comes off with this method is by scratching or wear. This one is on the cheap side to do. I painted my canoe 21 years ago and have only re done some of the bad spots once after that, my hunting buddy used the same method 7 years ago and it still looks great even after saltwater hunting in Nova Scotia!First if it is an older boat you should wash it thoroughly with sos and then you sand with 150 grit sandpaper . The next step is to slightly etch the alum. with an acid to do this I just used vinegar,then you are ready to paint, we have been using Duck Boat Brown paint by Interlux but on my canoe for the first time years ago I just used Tremclad Green and dusted it with flat back.Anyways its just an option, I just purchased a 12 footer and did the whole boat brown, what ever you do good luck hunting/fishing Steve.

[ratherbefishin]

if you are painting an aluminum boat-the hardest part will be removing the old paint[ it always is]Check out some of the ''new generation'' chemical strippers used for aircraft- Napier products go under various names''Removall'' , SV35, ''Hydrostrip'' ICI is one of the distributors, and PP&G is just beginning to carry the line under their own brand name.Check out the website- www.napierenvironmental.com The beauty of this stuff is it's non toxic and doesn;t burn your hands