Cheapest, easiest, fastest way to paint a crappy fiberglass boat?

[logjammin]

Hi folks. I have a not-great, ugly-as-sin fiberglass boat that I've just patched up with new applications of fiberglass and resin.

This is a very old boat and I don't care about its appearance at all (I have another boat that I use as my "good boat," this one is essentially a spare). But as long as I have it out of the water, it seems like a good opportunity to give it a fresh look and coat of paint.

What is the absolute fastest, cheapest way, where quality really doesn't matter, to paint my boat?

Could I, in theory:

1. Apply one coat of primer
2. Apply a few coats of standard, Sherwin Williams oil-based paint

...and that's it? Is that a horrible idea, if I don't care much about how long this lasts or what it looks like?

I've read about the bottom and top paints, relative to the water line. It appears bottom paints are rather expensive ... and also, I live in Lago Atitlán Guatemala, where fancy marine paints are not available. How much trouble would I be in if I ignore the bottom vs. top aspect?

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm sure it's abundantly clear I have no idea what I'm doing.

 

[flashback]

I did an old boat just as you described, just oil based house paint with a roller and brush. It lasted about 5 years and eventually disappeared but it didn't peal or flake.

 

[Scott Danforth]

What is the absolute fastest, cheapest way, where quality really doesn't matter, to paint my boat?

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[crazy charlie]

Hi folks. I have a not-great, ugly-as-sin fiberglass boat that I've just patched up with new applications of fiberglass and resin.

This is a very old boat and I don't care about its appearance at all (I have another boat that I use as my "good boat," this one is essentially a spare). But as long as I have it out of the water, it seems like a good opportunity to give it a fresh look and coat of paint.

What is the absolute fastest, cheapest way, where quality really doesn't matter, to paint my boat?

Could I, in theory:

1. Apply one coat of primer
2. Apply a few coats of standard, Sherwin Williams oil-based paint

...and that's it? Is that a horrible idea, if I don't care much about how long this lasts"

Fastest ,cheapest, not give a crap way.........Go to Home Depot and buy 20 cans of their $1.49 aerosol spray paint and spray away like you dont give a crap. Charlie

 

[airshot]

Exterior enamal and a roller !!

 

[Davetowz]

Rustoleum... roll it on or spray it.

 

[logjammin]

Love it! Thanks folks. Every video and advice page I could find is about doing it the proper way, very glad to hear if/when I half-ass this it won't fall apart in a week.

 

[RMClark]

For that kind of work, I like Rustoleum Farm and Implement Paint. Available at big box home improvement stores. Comes in liquid cans or spray cans. The roll-on/brush-on stuff does take a while to dry, but it dries hard and is durable. I used it on my 14' Lund aluminum boat and am now using it on the trailer as I make mods to that.

Another brand of that farm and implement paint is Krylon. I've also used it, but it's not as widely available as the Rustoleum product. However, Krylon also makes a hardener additive that can be mixed in to make that stuff almost bulletproof. The Krylon I've bought before was special order from O'Reilly Auto.

Expect to pay $15-20 per quart can, depending on where you buy it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

add hardener to the paint.

go to tractor supply, get the Majic brand hardener. you can add to rustoleum, etc. you can even use the Majic line of implement paints.

 

[flashback]

I probably would have gotten a few more years if I had used hardner, I didn't know of it at the time.

 

[Bondo]

Hi folks. I have a not-great, ugly-as-sin fiberglass boat that I've just patched up with new applications of fiberglass and resin.

This is a very old boat and I don't care about its appearance at all (I have another boat that I use as my "good boat," this one is essentially a spare). But as long as I have it out of the water, it seems like a good opportunity to give it a fresh look and coat of paint.

What is the absolute fastest, cheapest way, where quality really doesn't matter, to paint my boat?

Could I, in theory:

1. Apply one coat of primer
2. Apply a few coats of standard, Sherwin Williams oil-based paint

...and that's it? Is that a horrible idea, if I don't care much about how long this lasts or what it looks like?

I've read about the bottom and top paints, relative to the water line. It appears bottom paints are rather expensive ... and also, I live in Lago Atitlán Guatemala, where fancy marine paints are not available. How much trouble would I be in if I ignore the bottom vs. top aspect?

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm sure it's abundantly clear I have no idea what I'm doing.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Sand it before ya paint, so the paint sticks,......

 

[Grub54891]

I call my spare boat the beater boat. Don’t really care if it gets banged up. As far as paint I’m no help.

 

[logjammin]

I call my spare boat the beater boat. Don’t really care if it gets banged up. As far as paint I’m no help.

Not going to lie, not painting it all was on the table. I GUESS I should spend $50 and a bit if my time to have it not look like a total piece of $#!+

 

[Scott Danforth]

Will cost you about $100 for a 17 food boat

 

[logjammin]

Will cost you about $100 for a 17 food bo. I live in Guatemala so prices are different here, but a gallon of oil-basef paint is 350 Guatemalan Quetzales which is about $45 USD. I've been reading up on "roll and tip" and all that

 

[Scott Danforth]

You still have acetone, hardener, primer, rollers, tape, sand paper, etc.

 

[logjammin]

I live in Guatemala so prices are different here, but a gallon of oil-based paint is 350 Guatemalan Quetzales which is about $45 USD. I've been reading up on "roll and tip" and all that, but if nothing else, this whole thread/post is helping me realize - just do it.
I AM going to try to find a "hardener," and I'll also sand with some random ass grit number.
Whatever I do, I'll post the final results here so future people who are googling how to be cheap bastards like me can learn from it too.

 

[Grub54891]

Not going to lie, not painting it all was on the table. I GUESS I should spend $50 and a bit if my time to have it not look like a total piece of $#!+

I took my 1977 pontoon and removed all the yellow panel, sanded and re-painted with paint and tractor paint with the hardener. I don’t have pictures at the moment but tomorrow I will from my other computer. Still looks good after five years. Wax every spring and fall. About $50 total. I know it’s not boat paint but it’s tractor grade, hey the tractors sit outside all year.