Primer Mistake--How bad is it?

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I just finished painting a coat of primer on the below-water-line part of my hull, and the transom. The boat is aluminum. I used Valspar metal primer--but (as my neighbor kindly pointed out) it doesn't specifically say its an aluminum primer. I looked on-line and found that Rustoleum makes a primer specifically for aluminum. Now I'm worried that I used the wrong stuff. Do you think the Valspar primer will hold up?

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: Primer Mistake--How bad is it?

Aluminum really hates paint LOL, need to have a self etching primer as a base or it is likely that your paint will fall off at some point, probaly sooner rather than later. I have not used the valspar personally but if it is not self etching you may be in trouble! Was your hull bare aluminum or were you over coating old paint? If just over coating old paint with no bare aluminum you would be alright, if bare aluminum bad deal. Good luck

 

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Re: Primer Mistake--How bad is it?

The boat wasn't painted but the bottom was well oxidized. Its about 25 years old. I cleaned it real well before painting. I buffed the transom with a wire brush and wiped it with a 50/50 vinegar mix before painting it.

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: Primer Mistake--How bad is it?

Really needed to be sanded with 120, then 50/50 vinegar water, dried, and then self etch primer. Then primer coat, light sand with fine grade scotch brite pad, re prime if necessary, scotch brite and remove dust and top coat with two to three coats of paint.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Primer Mistake--How bad is it?

Magnumdeke is correct. You did the right thing by pre-washing with vineagar but... the Valspar primer is not self etching and aluminum needs the S.E. primer for proper adhesion. Several have tried it without and have had less than satisfactory results. Some Strip Ease stripper will make short work of removing the primer back to the bare aluminum. Rustoleum or SEM make Self Etching primer for the aluminum. Just takes a very light coating. Then You can use the Valspar primer with good results. Check the last link in my signature for some good info on painting your boat.