Re painting an aluminum boat

[boatingDad]

O.K., this is starting to stress me out. I have a boat with a lot of scratches in the paint I going to re-paint the boat but looking for advice on prepping. Can I just sand out the scratches with a orbit sander or do I have to strip all the paint. I want to do it right and try to make it look nice. I don't just want paint over a scratch look. Help me out if you can.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Re painting an aluminum boat

Welcome to iBoats!
If the paint is adhering well to the boat then there is no need to remove it. A light wet sanding with 180 grit and then some 220 grit to feather the edges of the scratches should do the trick. Any BARE aluminum MUST be primed with Self Etching Primer. Wash the boat with Some hot soapy water, rinse it REAL good, let it dry, Prime those bare spots then Paint it. I recommend using Good Ole' Rustoleum Professional Industrial Oil Based Paint. Thin it 15% with Penetrol and add the appropriate amount of Valspar Oil Based Hardener. You can get it at most Sherwin Willaims Paint stores. Makes it dry faster and harder. Application is either spray or Roll and Roll. Do a search on the forum for the Roll and Roll method of applying paint. Lot's of examples.

It'll look great and last for years.