paint coverage

[phantomv170]

Im going to paint my 17 ft aluminum boat with Rustoleum marine.
There directions mention you will get about 100 sq ft of coverage. I was wondering if anyone has any real life coverage using this paint. Going by their guide, Im thinking 2 quarts should do it.

The boat is currently painted, so Im not going over bare metal.
I plan on using a roller.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: paint coverage

Thin it with 10% penetrol and you'll be amazed at how it will flow out smooth as silk. Use an ultra fine 7" foam roller. Two quarts will be plenty. You'll have enough for touch ups next year. Do it early in the morning and watch the humidity. Give the Paint a MINIMUM of a Week to cure before splashing and even better would be a month if you really want to avoid chips and dings.

I'm just sayin...

 

[ajgraz]

Re: paint coverage

I'm getting about 60 sqft per qt on bare, 120-grit-sanded, lacquer-thinner-wiped-down fiberglass (gel coat, actually), using foam brushes for corner-cuts and a foam roller, that's including both coats.

BTW, what color? I am using "Battleship Gray" but wound up having to cut it 1 qt gloss gray with 2 qts semi-gloss white to get a gray that was not way too dark, not way too glaringly shiny (I'm doing my entire topside), and to get a good tooth for the second coat.

EDIT: agreed with above, but I used 3.5 oz plain mineral spirits per qt for thinning, I'm waiting a minimum 1 week between coats, and the boat isn't going to see water for at least another 3 months.

Also, I am doing the deck with the same paint with the anti-slip mixed in (then an overcoat w/o anti-slip); that's working out very nicely.

Another thing, I have no choice but to sometimes work in direct sunlight; the thinning really helps give some open time in that event.

Also agreed with the fine foam "trim" style rollers.

 

[phantomv170]

Re: paint coverage

Thanks for the replies, and tips too.
I too was going to get the battleship gray and mix it with a qt of the white to get 2 qts of something hopefully not as dark.
Although, I dont know if I can wait a month.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: paint coverage

Even 1:1 was too dark for me, absorbed too much heat for barefoot comfort on the deck. I found 1:2 grey:white to be much better in that regard.

In finding the right shade, I wound up with A LOT more paint than I'll need. I've got retains of both 1:1 and 1:2 from my test-mixing (yes, I keep everything). If you really want to see what they look like and flow like before investing $, I could send you a few ounces of each ratio in plastic screw-top specimen tubes in a $5 USPS Priority small flat-rate box.

 

[phantomv170]

Re: paint coverage

Even 1:1 was too dark for me, absorbed too much heat for barefoot comfort on the deck. I found 1:2 grey:white to be much better in that regard.

In finding the right shade, I wound up with A LOT more paint than I'll need. I've got retains of both 1:1 and 1:2 from my test-mixing (yes, I keep everything). If you really want to see what they look like and flow like before investing $, I could send you a few ounces of each ratio in plastic screw-top specimen tubes in a $5 USPS Priority small flat-rate box.

Do you have any pics of your tests, or at least your final 1:2 ratio? Im assuming your boat must be painted with the 1:2 ratio.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: paint coverage

Here's a color comparison:

The small paint tray has the 1:2 gray:white that I ultimately went with. The small spots of color on the 1:1 patch are some experiments with mixing in some Rustoleum "aluminum" paint to get a metal-flake effect...that really made the paint get hot in the sun, so I skipped that quick

On the hull; the splashwell, the horizontal surfaces (tops) of the gunwales, and every surface inside the cabin/shell is painted in the 1:2 gray:white:

(Sorry about the shadows, took the pics this morning before work)

Compared to before painting:

The 1:2 gray:white is a very light, subtle gray, yes, but that's what I wanted for my interior.

 

[phantomv170]

Re: paint coverage

Thanks for the pics. Always helpful to actually see it.
I think the 1:1 ratio looks good for my purpose. Oddly enough my color scheme is similiar to yours. Two tone gray and red for accent. I dont have any white though.

 

[rz]

Re: paint coverage

I have a 10ft Jon boat that I'd like to paint and it is not painted, any recommendations on the primer I should use on it? I'm also thinking that one qt. of the Rustoleum marine should do fine for me (mainly for small resevoir fishing and small pond duck retrieving).

If I spray it, will it stretch further along with the 10% penetrol thinning?

rz

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: paint coverage

You MUST use Rustoleum's Self Etching Primer on ANY aluminum boat.

And Yes the Pentrol will make the paint flow out better thus making you get better coverage. One quart should be more than enough for your Jon Boat. Make sure to NOT paint in direct sunlight, NOT HIGH humidity, Give it at LEAST a Week to cure, preferably 30 days, and wear proper saftey equipment when painting.

I'm just sayin...

 

[rz]

Re: paint coverage

Thanks "woodonglass" for the rust-oleum tip this is totally new for me I just got this boat on saturday from the local pawn shop (go figure). It appears to be in pretty good shape it's just TOO! shiney for my taste. I'll give it the water test before I paint since I have a 30 day warranty. Do you have any updated pictures of your flamingo?

For "ajgraz" nice job with the paint, did you paint it on trailer like in the pics?
I'm asking because I may have to go the same route for my 71' 15ft Rinkerbuilt Tri-Hull.

Thanks
rz

 

[ajgraz]

Re: paint coverage

I did paint while on the trailer, but bear in mind I did not paint the bottom (white) part--that stayed gelcoat--only the red stripes and the grey interior.

And the reason I went with paint on the entire interior was that there were so many rust-spots, mis-colored hole-fills, patches, spider-cracks, and spots where the gelcoat had been worn or sanded through on the interior that painting came out to be the easiest/cheapest overall solution.

(Also the same reason I decided to paint over the red stripes on the outside--too many patches, fills, and repairs where the red gelcoat just wasn't even there anymore)

Why did I choose grey? For one it (sorta) matches the vinyl upholstery I'm doing, and for another I found trying to match the off-whitish of the 30+ year old gelcoat to be an exercise in futility.

I will admit this, I am no pro painter, and the paint job looks much better from 10' away than from 1' away :redface: But for a rig that might be worth $1500-$2000 when I'm done, it's good enough for me. I'm hoping to get another 3-5 years use out of it and have it still be in sale-worthy shape with little more than a touch-up or two.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: paint coverage

Flamingo is still as she was. I had health issue, a bathroom remodel and now a heat wave. BUT.... In about Two weeks I AM going to Strip her down and get started so pics will be forthcoming. I am very anxious to get started. I am lucky that my 50 year old boat has a SOLID transom, deck and Stringers. Just need to flip her and do som hull/keel repairs, paint job on top and bottom, Get the Back to Back Seat recovered, Rewired her, Get the motor rebuilt, Re-do the Trailer and Splash her Late next Spring. I WILL "Git er Dun!!!!!" Be looking for my thread very soon.

I'm just sayin...