Prepping aluminum boat for salt water slip

[boatymcgee]

I painted my entire 18ft aluminum boat w rustolium top coat boat paint 10 years ago. It held up ok trailered in the salt water use, rinse after use.

I am going to slip the boat in salt water for 4-5 months for the first time.

1) I guess I need copper free anti fouling paint? going over paint, can I light sand and skip primer ?
2) Do I need sacrificial anode on boat, on motor, or boat?
3) Do I need to paint the outboard motor with something or spray a coat on motor leg?



I bought rustolium bottom paint, but now I see it has copper in it and need to be returned I suppose.


How many coats do you think is needed? Are these products ok?

totalboat aluminum paint AF - "copper free ablative antifouling paint"
or
totalboat krypton - "copper free ablative antifouling paint"

Its just a beat fishing boat would like a quick and inexpensive way to coat it for some protection.

18ft aluminum
70HP evinrude from the 80s

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I would ask the marina if they have a dry storage option, sure takes a little longer to get on the water, call ahead and pay to have it in the water when you show.

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

in water for 4-5 months , your top coat of rustoleum will separate from the hull within a few days. best would be to strip, sand, and then apply a good etching primer, epoxy paint, then the 2 layers of barrier coat, and 3 coats or more of bottom paint

you do need anodes, and a lot of them with an aluminum boat.

I would also look into dry storage

 

[boatymcgee]

welcome aboard

in water for 4-5 months , your top coat of rustoleum will separate from the hull within a few days. best would be to strip, sand, and then apply a good etching primer, epoxy paint, then the 2 layers of barrier coat, and 3 coats or more of bottom paint

you do need anodes, and a lot of them with an aluminum boat.

I would also look into dry storage

ooof thats more than I thought. if i spot sand, spot etch primer and seal with aluminum bottom boat you think it will still peal off?

the existing paint has held up well for 10 years in the salt, but only 5-8 hours trips at at time, then back on the trailer.

The dock is already paid for, no dry storage its going in corrosion or not. Its an old boat.

I think im just gonna sand and coat it w "totalboat aluminum paint AF" and take whatever damage happens.

For anodes on the boat, just bolt zinc anodes on the hull w stainless bolts?

 

[boatymcgee]

I'm moving and this may be the last season of this boat foe me anyway. this will be the Sacrificial docking haha

 

[Scott Danforth]

good luck

 

[Chris1956]

Some (if not all) aluminum safe antifouling paint require a serious primer to insulate the A-F paint from the hull. Not sure your Rustolium is up to it. Even 1 part marine polyurethane paint will peel on a boat hull kept in the water.

 

[boatymcgee]

thanks everyone. I did end up buying the epoxy aluminum barrier coat primer

 

[crazy charlie]

I slipped an aluminum 24 ft cruiser in salt and the issues are constant.If there are any surrounding boats that are plugged in to shore power there will be an issue.its almost like your boat becomes the sacrificial anode.Best barrier coat I used was a 2 part epoxy called Bitumastic.It was like very thick paint as far as applying.Lots of issues though.Charlie

 

[boatymcgee]

I slipped an aluminum 24 ft cruiser in salt and the issues are constant.If there are any surrounding boats that are plugged in to shore power there will be an issue.its almost like your boat becomes the sacrificial anode.Best barrier coat I used was a 2 part epoxy called Bitumastic.It was like very thick paint as far as applying.Lots of issues though.Charlie

thanks. This particular slip does not have electicity. hopfully it wont hurt me too much.