Painting Aluminum boat

[Sheehandler24]

I know this has probably been asked a million times but what’s the best option for restoring the paint on my boat. I want to keep it the same colour and would rather not soda blast it it and start fresh. Can I just sand it down an paint over the original paint or do I have to strip it bear? What’s the best pain to use for above and below water line? I’m in exclusively fresh water and the boat is aluminum.

 

[Scott Danforth]

If your paint is good, have you simply tried buffing?

If the paint is good, a scuff and spray will work. Scuff with 220 and paint

However if your paint is pealing. .. sand off and start over

See the 4th sticky down at the top of the forum for the DIY link for painting a trailer boat ,(enamel with hardener)

 

[Sheehandler24]

The paint isn’t peeling but it’s got a lot of chips and rubbed off spots. I’m scared to buff it cause I think it’s pretty thin in some spots.
Thanks Scott, I’ll take a look at the link

 

[Scott Danforth]

scuff the whole boat with 220
sand the chips and bare aluminum with about 150
use etching primer in the spots with bare aluminum
paint the whole boat

 

[Sheehandler24]

scuff the whole boat with 220
sand the chips and bare aluminum with about 150
use etching primer in the spots with bare aluminum
paint the whole boat

Cool, thanks for the advice Scott

 

[Berdink]

Is it okay to wait a week after etching primer on bare aluminum to then do the bare metal primer?
I'm trying to follow the steps posted in these forums, but I don't remember if there was a maximum time frame between etching primer until the second step of bare metal primer.