Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

[crazy charlie]

Hopefull someone has done this with good results.The floorboards in my Zodiac are ready for repaint.They seem to be fiberglass coated wood core and they are gray and most of the factory paint has worn off where the gas tank sits.I tried priming and painting with spray rustoleum but they peeled and flaked almost immediately.I am about to try either a bilge coat paint or a topside epoxy.Has anyone used anything good on the factory finish floorboards??Charlie

 

[jheron]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

The floor in my 10' Zodiac is wood with some type of heavy clear varnish I just sanded them down and put on a couple a coats of spar varnish, turned out pretty nice <br />Jon

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

Charlie, I would use Interlux BilgeKote. It's formulated to resist oil & gas and is both glossy and hard as nails.<br /><br />Mike P

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

Thats what I was thinking Strato,it is almost a color match as well.My floor boards are a little darker gray than the bilgekote.Charlie

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

Charlie;<br /><br />make sure your use an oil base paint.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

I painted mine a couple of times. Used the oil base Interlux, sanded good and primed 2 coats first.<br /><br />Mine were bowed as well, from being wet I guess. I moved the hardware to the other side and made the top the bottom, straightened em back out....

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

I am not sure if the bilgekote is oil based.Did you guys use a topside paint???Charlie

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

Well, it wasn't bottom paint. Or bilgecoat. Must be topside paind. Another thing to do is mix some of that non skid sandy stuff in with the paint......

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

BilgeKote is indeed an oil based paint. The great thing about using it in your application is that it's resistant to oil & gas, so spills won't hurt the finish. Other topside paints, I'm not so sure.....

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

Then Bilgecoat it is.Charlie

 

[Snowdrggn]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

Mine were a well worn grey also, I sanded them and primed, then used marine enamel. As far as the front section bowing from the keel pusshing them up, I made up a couple of laminated oak pieces to mount cross ways on the first and second floor section from the front to keep the floorboards flat. I secuerd them in the same manner as the other wood strips were secured. On the top of the strips I added, I mounted some stainless loops so I now have a way of securing things like fuel tanks and dry bags. The other benefit of doing this was it made the keel more effective and gave it a bit more stability at speed. Below is a link to picture of my Zodiac, unfortunately it doesn't show the floor detail well, or the 6 US gallon triangular fuel tank secured under the dodger on its nose.<br /><br /> http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/Snowdrggn/Zodiac/Dscf0069.jpg <br /><br /><br />Cheers

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

I painted the floorboards on my old Quicksilver (no comment) several times, each time I'd flip em upside down when reinstalling to kind of reverse the bends/bows in them.

 

[ZodFutMk2]

Re: Painting floor boards in Zodiac inflatable

I sanded mine and used oil based primer and then color coat with rustoleum and then clear coat of marine spar urethane.<br /><br />My two front boards (the rears are aluminum) were bowed so bad that the hardware couldn't correct the issue, so I did like Snowdrggn, but used pre-stressed pine to allow for some flexibility.<br /><br />We like the new front floorboards better because it allows for a solid no-slip step when entering from the beach with wet feet and it holds the floor cushion in place when my youngest is hanging over the bow doing his Titanic impression.