14' Arkansas Traveler redo

[Kellyfmtx]

I have a 14' aluminum Arkansas Traveler I will be redoing. Mainly paint. Can anyone tell me what grit size for sandpaper I need to use? I am going to borrow a friend's electric sander. Also he told me that I should use spray appliance paint on the boat. I don't want to spend a lot. But I want it to look decent. Any thoughts on type of paint? I live in Tx, and the sun is very damaging and will fade paint jobs. How do you know which paint is best, then what do you use besides wax maybe to keep it from fading?

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Search this forum for "painting aluminum" boat or hull...lots of good answers to your questions, and ideas/tips for doing it right for not much $$. If the old paint is sound, rough it up a bit and apply a self-etching primer. Then the color coat of your choice...several specialty boat paints available but lots of folks here use plain old Rustoleum, plain or marine, from the box stores and get good results. I used a specialty paint, Petit Easypoxy, on my aluminum boat and spent about $75 on a quart of PE and primer from the auto parts store. I just roughed up the old paint and sanded enough to get a clean surface, then primered and color coated. Any good auto wax will do.

 

[Mark42]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I have a 14' aluminum Arkansas Traveler I will be redoing. Mainly paint. ......... Also he told me that I should use spray appliance paint on the boat.......

Do NOT use appliance paint on your boat. First, it says right on the paint can that it is not for outdoor use. Second, I used it on my boat cleats and some other properly prepared parts. It lasted about 3 seasons and cracked, peeled and did not protect against corrosion. This on a boat that is well cared for and covered when not in use.

Use Rustolium or outdoor Urathane, or Auto paint if you want to keep within a limited budget.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Search this forum for "painting aluminum" boat or hull...lots of good answers to your questions, and ideas/tips for doing it right for not much $$. If the old paint is sound, rough it up a bit and apply a self-etching primer. Then the color coat of your choice...several specialty boat paints available but lots of folks here use plain old Rustoleum, plain or marine, from the box stores and get good results. I used a specialty paint, Petit Easypoxy, on my aluminum boat and spent about $75 on a quart of PE and primer from the auto parts store. I just roughed up the old paint and sanded enough to get a clean surface, then primered and color coated. Any good auto wax will do.

I did not know Rustoleum had a marine spray paint. I will check this stuff out, thanks. My boat paint is not in good condition at all. The whole thing needs to be sanded down. Then I put this self etching primer on huh. Okay.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Do NOT use appliance paint on your boat. First, it says right on the paint can that it is not for outdoor use. Second, I used it on my boat cleats and some other properly prepared parts. It lasted about 3 seasons and cracked, peeled and did not protect against corrosion. This on a boat that is well cared for and covered when not in use.

Use Rustolium or outdoor Urathane, or Auto paint if you want to keep within a limited budget.

I am a believer. You convinced me about the appliance paint. I dread spray painting this boat...every time I spray paint, I get runs in the paint and that drives me crazy. I like smooth paint. I will do a search here and see what I come up with.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Use the search function and look up "Tip and Roll" and you will be amazed at how easy it is to apply paint with great results.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

If you don't like rattle-can spray paint, just buy some primer and paint in a can and use the roll-n-tip method...much easier to do. You can get the rollers right here at Iboats mall...any cheap foam brush will do for the tipping part.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Thanks guys. I will check into what you said.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

If you don't like rattle-can spray paint, just buy some primer and paint in a can and use the roll-n-tip method...much easier to do. You can get the rollers right here at Iboats mall...any cheap foam brush will do for the tipping part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTVVjzbA72U
I found this video, does that look about the right way to do it? I was thinking of using Rustoleum from a can. But the primer shows for above waterline. I guess I need above, and below primer. But this method is for System 3 stuff, and I doubt if I use it because it is very expensive.

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

IM almost poasitive the onyl time you need a below waterline paint is if your leaving your boat in the water. it is alge reisitant. I think if you trailer your boat to the water you should be fine with the basic primer

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

That's the correct video that shows the technique, just use Rustoleum in the can or whatever paint you choose. If you plan to trailer your boat, you won't need a special ablative paint for below the water line.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Thanks guys. Well that is a relief. I won't use but one primer then.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Well I got talked out of the roll and tip method. I bought the paint cans and will spray it. I am going to get some help from someone who can spray stuff really good. Hopefully it will look alright. If not I already have the roller and paint brushes to make it a roll and tip. I am using an off white color where there is white paint. On the top area where it is green, I am going to paint it a smoke gray.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I just saw another thread, and forgot about etching primer. The Rustoleum spray paint said to prime it with Stops Rust. So I bought three cans of it. This is supposed to go on over rusty metal. I still plan to clean the boat, use airplane stripper, and use wire brush, and sand it. Then I was going to add the primer. I also read about using white vinegar. Since I forgot about the etching primer, I am wondering if I could just get some white vinegar and use this Stop Rust by Rustoleum, or should I still get the etching primer?

 

[Mark42]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Well I got talked out of the roll and tip method. .....

Why did you decide against roll and tip? All the roll and tip paint jobs I've seen on these forums look great.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

My best friend's husband is a contractor. He does all kinds of work. Mainly he does carpentry and house construction. He has also done a lot of spray painting, and general maintenance. He did not think I would be able to do as good of a job with the roll and tip method, he thought it would leave more marks, than spraying. If I do not like how the spray job is going, I will do the roll and tip. He is going to show me how to do the spray, and he said real light coats of spray would look better than roll and tip. Since he is going to talk me through it, I thought I would see how it goes. I took my boat to their place out in the country, and that is where I will do the electric sanding, and spraying. He is also doing the wood work on the boat for me. I am having him build me like a glove box for putting in my first aid kit, flare gun, and that kind of stuff. On top of that I hope to have a small casting deck. The only problem that will basically take up one of the seats. (there are 3) I will have to get pics of the inside of the boat before I get started. It is in pretty bad shape. Considering the boat hasn't been used since the late 90's...it isn't too bad. But it will require some TLC to get it presentable.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Don't know if the stop rust is made for aluminum...the self-etching primer definitely is. You can use white vinegar followed by a clean water rinse to clean it after prepping it. Might try a test of the stops rust and color on some scrap aluminum before you do the boat. I've seen spray can paint peel badly from aluminum when not primer was used...lasts a while then peels. The etching primer gives the paint something to bond to.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Thanks. Well that is not good. Could you tell me a good place to get the etching primer at a decent price...locally possibly?

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Well you are right. I checked the Rustoleum website and finally found where it said it won't work on clean metal. The back of the can said it needed a primer, and it named the Stop Rust primer. Dang. Well I will have to take that back.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

What is the consensus on DuPont Variprime? I read about spray can type etching primer, but am not sure which would be the best for me...easiest to apply, fairly reasonable price, and hopefully find locally.