Paint Opinions

[boatguy94]

Since I will be painting my Starcraft, along with many others, in the future I thought it might be a good time to get opinions on what paint/primers others have used or are using and how they are applying it.

If you have already painted your Starcraft post what your thoughts on how the paint is holding up, and how it was to apply. Pictures are welcome .

I know that there are tons of resto threads out there with this stuff in them, but it might be nice to compile it all into one thread for anyone looking for a reference later on.

Update 12/16/10:
Here is a link from Jasoutside's resto thread about rusto on a car and how it has held up in the world. Not how you would apply it to a Starcraft, or any aluminium boat, but a good refrence.
http://www.rickwrench.com/index79master.htm?http://www.rickwrench.com/50dollarpaint.html

Also so that this is at the top of the thread I have quoted MichaelP's researched paint process. This will change i'm sure, but it's a start.

Here is the process that looks best to me at the moment.
1) strip (not necessary to remove all paint)
2) scour entire surface
3) degrease with lacquer thinner or similar
4) wash bare alum with 50% H20/50% vineger and let dry
5) tack cloth
6) 1 coat Etching zinc chromate primer
7) 1 coat primer that?s compatible with top coat
8) light sand then tack cloth
9) top coat with either enamel, 1 part epoxy (or what ever you can afford) (2-3 coats)
rev b 12-09-10
This might be a starting point for us. We can modify this as we go.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Paint Opinions

It would be nice to have a comprehensive paint guide. There is a lot of info here on different paints and techniques. Not to mention the all important and potentially life saving safety tips.

Either stickie it or make it available in a document for download. Similar to the mercruiser manuals, which I downloaded and use often. I'm grateful to CheapboatKev for having them and sharing them. They helped me find my drain plugs for winterizing.

Does anyone here belong to Hotrodders.com? They have an impressive Wiki area. If your into hotrods check them out. Maybe we could copy their Wiki knowledge base and apply it to tin boats.

We would be the envy of the boating world. People would come from afar to view our massive knowledge on Gluvit, paint, and replacing rivets.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Paint Opinions

Excellent idea. I have been pondering how to paint my hull too. Read up on it some. There is alot of info out there in bits and pieces scattered around. Would be nice to have the different methods and the costs involved grouped together. Fiberglass or aluminum. Low budget or skies the limit. Fresh or salt water. Trailered or moored. Stripped or paint over. Different application methods. Etc.
Example- Aluminum hull, not removing original paint to bare metal, used primarily in fresh water and trailered every use (not left tied to buoy or dock, no growth). Reasonable budget, have buddy with automotive body shop.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Paint Opinions

Here's something I've done on another forum.
Compile all the links pertinent to your topic..."Painting a Starcraft" and ask a mod to make it a 'sticky'.

This guy has a great one:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=299680

And this mod made a nice one too:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430

Not to be insulting or negative, starting a thread asking for someones opinion is kinda vague...can you imagine how many 'opinions' are out there!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Paint Opinions

Well I can sure tell you that painting with Easypoxy over your existing, thoroughly scuffed, paint job without priming, is a friggin' BAD idea. I am also of the opinion that Petit Easypoxy is absolute crap.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: Paint Opinions

Thanks BoatGuy, I've been thinking about doing this thread for a while.

I found plenty of leads on strippers (paint strippers) but bottom coating is a mixed up issue. Hard to find a paint that is ok for submersion. I don't want to spend huge $ on paint but I'm not sure I trust Rustoleum either. On my last resto I used a 1 part epoxy on the bottom. (topsecretcoatings.com). Worked well but pricey. Last weekend I studied marine paints at a local marine supply shop for over an hour. Walked away confused and disgusted with the cost.

Hope this thread brings some good economical solutions.

BTW....Don't mention noodles

Mike

 

[boatguy94]

Re: Paint Opinions

It would be nice to have a comprehensive paint guide. There is a lot of info here on different paints and techniques. Not to mention the all important and potentially life saving safety tips.

This sounds like a great idea. If enough people gave there techniques I could copy them and make some sort of pdf with paint choices and prices and the techniques used.

Would be nice to have the different methods and the costs involved grouped together. Fiberglass or aluminum. Low budget or skies the limit. Fresh or salt water. Trailered or moored. Stripped or paint over. Different application methods. Etc.

Example- Aluminum hull, not removing original paint to bare metal, used primarily in fresh water and trailered every use (not left tied to buoy or dock, no growth). Reasonable budget, have buddy with automotive body shop.

That is pretty much I was thinking. Compile a list of ways it is done, and where the boat will be and how well that paint has held up under those conditions.

Here's something I've done on another forum.
Compile all the links pertinent to your topic..."Painting a Starcraft" and ask a mod to make it a 'sticky'.

Not to be insulting or negative, starting a thread asking for someones opinion is kinda vague...can you imagine how many 'opinions' are out there!

I don't think it's really that easy since most of the paint talk is in threads 10 or more pages long, and they really don't touch on it for that long. I knew this would be a vauge topic, but I thought with some others input we could set something up.

Well I can sure tell you that painting with Easypoxy over your existing, thoroughly scuffed, paint job without priming, is a friggin' BAD idea. I am also of the opinion that Petit Easypoxy is absolute crap.

-1 for Petit EasyPoxy.
I thought you loved that stuff (sarcasm).

I don't want to spend huge $ on paint but I'm not sure I trust Rustoleum either. Last weekend I studied marine paints at a local marine supply shop for over an hour. Walked away confused and disgusted with the cost.

Hope this thread brings some good economical solutions.

Thanks Mike! Thats the same way I feel. I don't want to spend my money on something if it's not going to get the job done.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Paint Opinions

This sounds like a great idea. If enough people gave there techniques I could copy them and make some sort of pdf with paint choices and prices and the techniques used.

I'll help with the writing or pieceing things together. We can get a couple of guys to proof it and edit it. I write techinical instructions at work.

A couple of guys doing the grunt work, and the guys with the painting experience adding/editing. Could be the start of something real useful for guys like me who are going to paint in the near future.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Paint Opinions

I can write up my low budget rustoleum paint job
heck, i'll toss in pics even after the hull got dented flying over the bow stop and never scraped off!

 

[djpeters]

Re: Paint Opinions

I can write up my low budget rustoleum paint job
heck, i'll toss in pics even after the hull got dented flying over the bow stop and never scraped off!

I think that is exactly what they are looking for. Some good, genuine, real world data! Maybe the technical writer could word this better.... "and the following is how rustoleum holds up to sliding across grass and cowpatties"......LOL. Just kidding Kev.......

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Paint Opinions

I can write up my low budget rustoleum paint job
heck, i'll toss in pics even after the hull got dented flying over the bow stop and never scraped off!

That would be great. Please include exactly what kind of prep you did, application method and mention the environment it is used in besides open fields and cow patty resistance.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Paint Opinions

I think that is exactly what they are looking for. Some good, genuine, real world data! Maybe the technical writer could word this better.... "and the following is how rustoleum holds up to sliding across grass and cowpatties"......LOL. Just kidding Kev.......

lol!

That would be great. Please include exactly what kind of prep you did, application method and mention the environment it is used in besides open fields and cow patty resistance.

Oh so much love...

 

[veilside180sx]

Re: Paint Opinions

I'll be painting my hull with Easypoxy in the next 2 weeks,and I'll post up my results when I do.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Paint Opinions

I'd be happy to consolidate my "experiences" with the stripping, prepping, priming, stripping, prepping, priming, painting fiasco. I am by means an expert, but good golly did I learn a few things.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: Paint Opinions

Guys, Lets post the "what not to do" as well.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Paint Opinions

Guys, Lets post the "what not to do" as well.

Don't not prime, and don't use rattle cans.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Paint Opinions

What about auto body paint?

 

[MichaelP]

Re: Paint Opinions

Lets fine tune the process below. More details can probably be added to each step so lets hear it. i.e. what grit works best to scour? What products have you used to strip? Barrier coat needed? Lets focus on below the water line performance.

On my first resto I scoured, primed with a moisture cured urethane then top coated the complete outside with 1 part epoxy by brush. Then sprayed the stern and sides and top sides with 1 coat of Rustoleum hammertone silver. Its been 3 years and the paint is not showing any signs of failure. I use the boat in fresh water about 6 times a year and she's been in the water for 3 days straight a few times. Not heavy use but its holding well so far.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: Paint Opinions

I just tried to contast Starcraft to get the paint specs. The # from the website put me to a dealer who used to sell for them and is trying to get this rectified. He was able to help on the paint question. According to him he requested the spec from them in the past. The response was 1 word....enamel. He wasn't sure if they primed but my boat has a rust color primer under what looks like 1 top coat. I see priming as a must do item. He did add that they "baked" the finish. We do something like that where I work. The part is warmed to 150f before painting. Gets rid of moisture and speeds cure time. Our oven and paint booths are just big enough for my mini chief

One thing that we DON'T want to do is use copper filled antifouling paint directly on the bare aluminum.

Here is the process that looks best to me at the moment.
1) strip (not necessary to remove all paint)
2) scour entire surface
3) degrease with lacquer thinner or similar
4) wash bare alum with 50% H20/50% vineger and let dry
5) tack cloth
6) 1 coat Etching zinc chromate primer
7) 1 coat primer that?s compatible with top coat
8) light sand then tack cloth
9) top coat with either enamel, 1 part epoxy (or what ever you can afford) (2-3 coats)
rev b 12-09-10
This might be a starting point for us. We can modify this as we go.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Paint Opinions

From what I understand you only need a light dusting of the ZC primer. If I were you, I'd substitue a coat of regular primer (whatever is made by the same manufacturer as your top coat paint) instead of the second coat of ZC.