Painting a jon boat

[boater1234]

I would like to repaint the bottom of my jon boat and need some help please?I know to sand down,etch it with vinegar,then a self etching primer then paint.I just want to do a cheap as job as possible with doing it correctly though,I checked the bottom of the boat and at the back there is a like 5 inch spot with pitting,it's like blackish dark grey looking spots but it doesn't have seemed to go all the way through the boat.I don't really know how deep they go.The guage aluminum is .064.I don't really know how thick that would be in mm.I really don't know what to do at this point.Should i just sand it down till it's all gone?I have been scraping it with a paint scrapper just to see how bad it is.It's not coming off very easy i can say that.I don't want to take to much metal off and weaken the boat structure.

I need help at this point.I guess in the morning i can take a pic of it if that helps.The boat is in such great shape except for a few small things.The inside has some small minor pitting but not to bad,nothing to worry about on a 11yr old boat,i'm not going to do the inside just the bottom so i know it will be corrosion free.I can't see it getting a hole in the bottom of it by sanding the pits out,or can i by some minor sanding?Should i just sand it the best i can and then fill the area in with something and then smooth it out then paint?

The big question is what can i use on aluminum that i can sand,paint and is somewhat flexable,i know or i should say i believe if i used like an epoxy even know it gets hard as as steel has a tend to still crack when the aluminum flexes.

I need some major help please.I'm almost tempted to just sell it as is and buy a new 1436 alumacraft for only $699 and that will be that.I'm sure if i just use it,it would hold up because i may just be a bit paranoid but it's better safe then sorry.

 

[zool]

Re: Painting a jon boat

JB weld, after cleaning with wire a drill brush..

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Painting a jon boat

This link has some good info on how to prep and paint your aluminum boat..."Paint Your Boat for Under $100 Bucks...Well Almost"

 

[boater1234]

Re: Painting a jon boat

Here is what i'm working with.The rest of the boat is in somewhat mint condition.I just don't know how far to sand the area or if i should sand it anymore then what it is already,a hole in the bottom of the boat by me sanding it will be bad,lol.The aluminum seems to be very strong and thick.To the answer of 5200,can you sand and paint that.What am i saying i have some i just bought i will read it.But if anyone has had hand on experience with it as far as sanding it and painting it please let me know,thanks.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Painting a jon boat

Had to add this pic,i didn't know you can only do 5 per post,whoops!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Painting a jon boat

That's plain old corrosion. You can sand it then skim coat that with jbweld, re-sand, prime and paint. The jbweld used as a skim coat will be fine. The other alternative is to paint the surface with gluvit after it has been sanded and that will be a permanent repair - sand, gluvit,lightly sand again, epoxy primer then paint. The latter will cost more money but the boat will be fixed properly forever.

The gluvit will also act as a barrier coat from future abrasions.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Painting a jon boat

Ok this is what i believe will be a 100% perfect repair,Bob you are correct in the one sense.I am going to sand the bottom of the boat to just rough it up,then clean it with vinegar,question will vinegar stop the cure of any chemical i want to use,i'm going to marine texflex it,then sand it nice and smooth,then i will see what the gluv it runs.If no glove it i will self etch prime the bare spots or all of it with a very light coat and just spray or roll rustoleum bottom paint on the bottom and i think that will solve the problem 100%.

PLEASE IF I'M NOT DOING SOMETHING RIGHT HERE,PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP BEFORE I SCREW THIS UP.THANKS FOR ANYMORE INFO.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Painting a jon boat

Well here is what i'm going with,i hope it will hold up.


1-wash down with water
2-degrease the boat
3-wet sand the whole boat lightly and the pitted areas down to smooth
4-clean whole boat with alcohol good
5-clean one good time with acetone
6-etch with vinegar and then self etching primer
7-paint

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Painting a jon boat

That oughta work fine. I'd use Hardener in the rustoleum if that's the paint you decide to use..

 

[boater1234]

Re: Painting a jon boat

Well friday i'm going to start this deal,my trucks tranny went and is getting fixed,plus i need new rear bearings and a new high side ac switch thats under the dashboard.The truck has only 150,000 miles on it and is a 1995.Everthing i mean everything my mechanic looks original and has never been changed.That amazes me almost 20yrs it's all held up.

The issue i have is i have everything but the bottom paint.I believe i'm going with the rustoleum bottom paint that you roll on.That should be good enough.

Question because i don't exactly rem what i did and how i did it on the outboard.When i degrease do i wash it down again after that?When i do the acetone and vinegar washes do i wash it down again with water after both?I think if i'm sure i did the vinegar last then i primed it then painted it but man i just can't rem exacly what step i did in order.

I guess i just need to know if i wash it down with water after i do all the chemical washes or do i just do the alcohol,let it dry,then acetone then let it dry,then vinegar then let it dry,then prime and paint.

Also how long does the paint take to dry to were i can put the boat back on the bunks of the trailer?

 

[boater1234]

Re: Painting a jon boat

Ok i have an issue,i have sanded and sanded the area of pitting and i'm getting scared that i will eat a hole through it.I trailer my boat in and out of the water,it never stays in the water.The question i have is what can i do to the pits that are left,i got it down way better then it was?I just need it to last a yr or so.If i put zinc chromate over it for a primer and paint it how long will it last if i'm just trailering it.

I don't know what else to do.I guess i can just keep sanding but i'm getting a bit scared because they are not coming completely out.I need help please.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Painting a jon boat

My neighbor has been in the autobody business for 30+ years. He swears by this stuff...Evercoat 889 Metal-2-Metal Aluminum Filled Filler, quart. $30 bucks a quart but says it will fill you pits and re-enforce your hull too. When done, prime it then paint it. If you don't beach it or pull it across gravel, it'll last for years if you use hardener in the paint.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Painting a jon boat

The good thing about the pits is they are in an area no stress will be on,in the back were the gas tank will be.If i just zc it and then paint how long would that last.I don't want to go crazy with this.I have marine text that i can fill it with.I just need it to make it through like not even a yr at best.I'm going to buy a new one next yr.It's water tight to thats what i hate about this.If i just leave it the way it is and the heck with the paint and everything how long will it last.I'm just so frustrated with this thing.If i trailer it the way it is and yes it will be in saltwater i can't see how it could eat through the metal in less then a yr.