Painting a boat on a trailer

[gregtobin]

I have a fiberglass bowrider that was painted with sloughing non-fouling paint. I have sanded most of it off and will finish this part of the job tonight. I have a gallon of nice blue laquer that I want to use to repaint the boat.

Are there some tricks here?
1. How best to paint the boat while on the trailer?
I cranked the winch all the way up when I started sanding and then I let the line out and pushed the boat about 2 feet down the trailer to finish. I can paint it in these two positions, but it might look messy.

2. I was going to use a small roller and paint it after taping off the top line. Do others use a brush? I don't have a paint sprayer (and it would be a mess).

3. Do I need to prepare the surface other than wipe off the dust from the sanded paint?

4. There are some spots just above the paint line where I ground some paint dust into the white fiberglass. How do I remove this? Semi-chrome polish?

5. Is there an easy way to restore the white fiberglass - it now looks dingy - without too much effort?
Thanks
Greg

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: Painting a boat on a trailer

It really isnt too hard to take a small boat off a trailer, or even to simply lift the bow off for a couple days, then the stern. One of my favorite methods is to place a floor jack under the trailer tongue, run it up as high as possible, chain/strap the boat to something high (big tree limb, garage beam) and then un hook the trailer winch, and slowly lower the trailer down - the boat will be a few feet off most of the trailer, easy for painting. I will leave the gelcoat repair question to the experts.

 

[sdunt]

Re: Painting a boat on a trailer

excellant explaination of painting prep process in this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=197645

 

[gregtobin]

Re: Painting a boat on a trailer

Here's an update on how this job went.

1. I left the boat on the trailer but pulled either forward all the way or pushed it back 2 feet to get to all the sections of the bottom

2. Sanded off the sloughing paint (copper impregnated). This was the biggest job and it was nasty having the paint dust rain down on me as I sanded overhead. Used full goggles and a tight mask. Sanding took at least 10 hours

3. taped off water line and painted with blue marine laquer. At first I used a small roller and then went back over it with a brush to smooth it out, but found it easier to use the brush for everything.

4. used one coat on the bottom and then applied a second coat on the sides that are visible just for appearances

5. I just got a kit for sprucing up the white gelcoat. It also includes a wax. I'll clean up the upper sections and then wax the whole thing.

6. so far, I think I've picked up at least 1 mile per hour!

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Painting a boat on a trailer

Post before and after pictures. The speak for themselves.