Painting pontoons for salt water

[greggimlick]

I'm looking at some pontoon boats for using at the coast and gotten lots of great help so far - thanks.<br /><br />One dealer at the coast who rents pontoons swears you've got to paint them if you want them to last. Since he rents them out all the time I assume he has good reason for this, but his are the only ones I see down there that are painted.<br /><br />Any thoughts on this? I'm not sure what he uses, but I assume he'd tell me and sell me the paint/coating if it's necessary.

 

[bayman]

Re: Painting pontoons for salt water

Interesting. Are these aluminum pontoons? <br /><br />Painting aluminum pontoons isn't very common. Many aluminum hull boats are painted though. They simply look better when painted (to me anyway). Normally, marine grade aluminum does not have to be painted as it will not corrode quickly. <br /><br />I have seen small aluminum parts corrode a lot in a salt water environments when used in close proximity to more noble metals, and without the generous use of zincs.<br /><br />-bayman

 

[greggimlick]

Re: Painting pontoons for salt water

Yes, they are renting Aloha brand 24 and 22' pontoon boats at a marina in Atlantic Beach and he swears they do fine as long as you "treat them". I didn't get into specifics at the time, but will be back down there soon and may go get more details. I don't think he was in a real talkative mood that day Anyway, they are 24" aluminum pontoons.<br /><br />I know in my Army helicopter days the aluminum parts were painted with zinc chromate and left that way unless it was the outside where it was over-sprayed with IR paint. I don't know what you do with marine grade aluminum.

 

[DJ]

Re: Painting pontoons for salt water

Geg,<br /><br />You don't need to paint them unless they are going to sit in the water. The paint would be for keeping "growth" off of them rather than inhibiting corrosion. Typically, an aluminum hull will only corrode to a point and then stop. The corrosion on the outer layer acts as a protectant to the metal underneath.<br /><br />You are right about Zinc Chromate. It is the primer of choice if you are going to paint previosly unpainted aluminum.<br /><br />For good painting info., go to the following website. www. PettitPaint.com

 

[DJ]

Re: Painting pontoons for salt water

Geg,<br /><br />You don't need to paint them unless they are going to sit in the water. The paint would be for keeping "growth" off of them rather than inhibiting corrosion. Typically, an aluminum hull will only corrode to a point and then stop. The corrosion on the outer layer acts as a protectant to the metal underneath.<br /><br />You are right about Zinc Chromate. It is the primer of choice if you are going to paint previosly unpainted aluminum.<br /><br />For good painting info., go to the following website. www. PettitPaint.com

 

[greggimlick]

Re: Painting pontoons for salt water

Thanks, there's no sense in doing work if it isn't needed. I'll check out the website on painting to keep for future reference.