Painting

[laker_jim]

can i use any paint to paint the bottom of my boat it is only use on a lake i really dont want to spend a lot on these fancy paints the boat is fiberglass i painted a small section with some rust-oleun i have a lot of it<br /><br />thanks jim

 

[roscoe]

Re: Painting

If the results please you, then go for it. If you want an automotive like finish, then you need the the right stuff.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Painting

Just watch out for the paint police. They will want you to do an environmental impact study, get a permit and probably hold hearings. Paint your boat with whatever you like in a garage with blackout curtains at night though.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Painting

There's been a movement in the wooden workboat area towards painting boats with 100% acrylic housepaint. Reported to look good and hold up well. I don't believe I'd try any kind other than acrylic, though.

 

[jamiewashere256]

Re: Painting

If you want it to peel off go for it. Im assuming that its a fiberglass boat? Rust oleum will not stick. It is too soft when cured. You will be able to scrape it off with your fingernail. Use Interlux. Its easy, cheap and looks AWESOME!

 

[JasonB]

Re: Painting

I have it on good authority that Rust-Oleum will stick to a fiberglass boat ok with the proper prep. I'll let you know in a few weeks, just finished the bottom of mine. Hope to have the rest painted in the next week or two. They are coming out with a special marine primer soon to help. It will not cure as hard as I would like, but for what I use my boat for, I believe it will be fine. Heck, I touched a spot on the keel (right where it breaks the surface when on plane) with some $0.98 spray paint 4 years ago. Had to sand it off before spraying the Rust-oleum. It may work, it may not. It's a gamble. I can say the bottom of my tri-hull looks great, not auto finish perfect, but good enough for a 30 year old boat to fish out of.

 

[smokerking]

Re: Painting

I've heard of folks using concrete paint(?) to coat the bottom of their hulls. They said it is tough as nails and will last a long time. Can anyone elaborate on this?

 

[jamiewashere256]

Re: Painting

Don't waste your time. Rust oleum does not have epoxy qualities. It wont work .I tried it and it was a disaster. I don't care how good your prep is. The Interlux paint brushes on which means less mess, and dries to an automotive quality finish. Trust me dude... you won't be happy with rust oleum.

 

[jamiewashere256]

Re: Painting

Concrete paint will work better than rust oleum. It is very hard, and has nice leveling qualities

 

[JasonB]

Re: Painting

Wandering Star, How did you apply it? After a few days, mine seems to have cured very well, but I sanded with 220 to rough it up, sprayed 3 coats of primer, and 6 coats of color. I think spraying is a key. It took a few days to harden, but I am very happy with it so far. I know of someone that painted their trailered salt water boat this way a few years ago and they is still pleased. Maybe it depends on the top speed of the boat. I would not use it is my boat were any faster than 35mph or if it wasn't a trailer boat that spends 350 days a year on the trailer and never over a few hours ata time in the water. I am adding a keel guard to protect while beaching as I wouldn't expect the rustoleum to hold up well there.<br /><br />I'm not trying to start a debate, but I think it depends on what results you expect to get weighted against the use of the boat. It may work for some, it may not for others.

 

[gewf631]

Re: Painting

Use Interlux. Its easy, cheap and looks AWESOME!

I won't quibble about wandering star's results, but at $40+ per quart, I don't think it's very cheap! Last time I checked, Rustoleum was less than $10 a quart.<br /><br />As for the concrete paint, 2-part epoxy kits (by Rustoleum) are also around $40. Color choices are limited tho.

 

[jamiewashere256]

Re: Painting

Well, if its a general use boat trailered most of the time,not used for salt water it will be ok. I applied it over previously painted fiber glass with appropriate preperation. It just didnt harden up to my satisfaction, I could scrape it off easily. Also I pay $19/QT for brightside poly, from Interlux and once you thin it 10% It will get you 2 nice coats on the top half of a 19' boat. To each thier own but I like the long term prospect of a marine grade paint over a spray paint intended for metal. I'm just saying, according to my results, the interlux is a far superior finish. The gloss is out of this world, as close to a showroom automotive finish as I have seen in any paint. Spray or brush on.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Painting

Agreed. I may have a bonus in that I didn't copmpletely remove the gel coat, just sanded it down and used it porosity to my advantage. Jut to clarify, I didn't paint the rust-oleum with spray cans, I'm using quart/gallon containers and shooting it via an air spray gun. The results are great. If I had a boat and just wanted to spruce it up, had plenty on rust-o that I liked, and a compressor, as roscoe said, go for it. I would just throw in some primer and wet sanding of the primer.