- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Painting vs. Polishing aluminum boat
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:22 am
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:22 am
I have this aluminum boat that I will slowly be bringing back to life. It will mainly be used for fishing and possibly a little duck hunting.
It definately needs a fresh coat of paint, but I really dont want to deal with dings and scratches in the paint down the road. It would be easy to just touchup with a rattle can, but I dont want a middle of the mall looking boat if I can help it.
I know the flashy polished look will not be too good for the duck hunting part, but it will be used for fishing 95% of the time.
I am really leaning towards just stripping the original paint and through whatever process, leaving it as bare aluminum. The more I look at the bare/polished boats, the more badass they look.
Any suggestions or opinions on the looks, stripping/sealing and polishing process?
What I have now:
What I am leaning towards:
It definately needs a fresh coat of paint, but I really dont want to deal with dings and scratches in the paint down the road. It would be easy to just touchup with a rattle can, but I dont want a middle of the mall looking boat if I can help it.
I know the flashy polished look will not be too good for the duck hunting part, but it will be used for fishing 95% of the time.
I am really leaning towards just stripping the original paint and through whatever process, leaving it as bare aluminum. The more I look at the bare/polished boats, the more badass they look.
Any suggestions or opinions on the looks, stripping/sealing and polishing process?
What I have now:
What I am leaning towards:
5
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:28 am to Polar Pop
I think if you sprayed on a camo pattern over the current paint, it would look fine. That's not a terrible base for the camo and most of it would get covered by browns/tans/blacks/other green by the end of it. And you could always roll the inside with a tan bed liner type material if you didn't want to paint it to match the rest.
Personally I would camo the outside, then add in a plywood floor that I could camo along with the seats and walls of the inside. And turn the entire front of the boat into a deck. I hate the whole bench seat look.
Personally I would camo the outside, then add in a plywood floor that I could camo along with the seats and walls of the inside. And turn the entire front of the boat into a deck. I hate the whole bench seat look.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:29 am to The Last Coco
Definately adding a deck up front with aluminum angle and 1/8 aluminum sheet (hydroturf on top).
That bare aluminum look is just really calling my name today.
That bare aluminum look is just really calling my name today.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:30 am to Polar Pop
Personally, I would just paint the thing. It'll probably be a pain in the arse stripping all the paint. On top of that, i'm sure it's full of dings and scratches. Those will all show up if you strip it, while they will be hidden if you paint it. If you strip it, you have to spray it with acid to keep it looking new, just another thing to do. I'm not sure you would get the look of those shiny new boats, even if you were to strip it.
I think painted aluminum boats look pretty good, fwiw.
I think painted aluminum boats look pretty good, fwiw.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:34 am to Polar Pop
I refinished this one for my dad last father's day. The best thing to use to strip off the old paint is acetone and a lot of elbow grease. Doesn't look like it'll be much of a concern for you, but the acetone is gonna take of anything, including any patch leak fixes that have accumulated over the years. If I were to do it again I wouldn't have knocked those off, cause it was a pain tracking down every little one again.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:38 am to TheDrunkenTigah
Looks good. 
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:39 am to TheDrunkenTigah
Nice paintjob. What paint did you use?
If I paint, I will just paint over the current layer instead of stripping it bare.
I am just afraid of getting chunks of paint taken out every time I bump up against something. I figured the bare aluminum would take care of that, but it looks like the process is a little more in-depth than I am willing to go.
If I paint, I will just paint over the current layer instead of stripping it bare.
I am just afraid of getting chunks of paint taken out every time I bump up against something. I figured the bare aluminum would take care of that, but it looks like the process is a little more in-depth than I am willing to go.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:39 am to Polar Pop
It will be a humongous hassle to get it to bare aluminum. I tried it once and gave up. Used aircraft stripper and one of those paint/rust stripping rubber wheels.
Just scuff it up, put a couple coats of self-etching primer, and paint with that camo spray stuff you can get at AutoZone or any hardware store
I put bedliner on my seats and rails, followed by tan camo on the seats. The tan kept it somewhat cool
You could also have it sandblasted and powder coated for a couple of hundred bucks.
Just don't worry about stripping it. You're getting into way more work than you think
Just scuff it up, put a couple coats of self-etching primer, and paint with that camo spray stuff you can get at AutoZone or any hardware store
I put bedliner on my seats and rails, followed by tan camo on the seats. The tan kept it somewhat cool
You could also have it sandblasted and powder coated for a couple of hundred bucks.
Just don't worry about stripping it. You're getting into way more work than you think
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:42 am to Hammertime
quote:
Just don't worry about stripping it. You're getting into way more work than you think
That is what I was afraid of, thanks for the heads up everyone
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:43 am to Polar Pop
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:44 am to Polar Pop
quote:
If I paint, I will just paint over the current layer instead of stripping it bare.
Thats a good idea, like I said less is more when dealing with a small aluminum boat like that. It can turn into way more work than it's worth quickly. I'd use sandpaper and stay away from any sealant around rivets (if an alweld then awesome). Scuff it pretty good, wipe down with acetone just to get the grease off, then use self-etching primer. The primer will give the aluminum a surface that can actually hold paint, and if you don't skip that step then you don't have to be picky about paint. I used regular old spray paint, I think it said something about durable exterior or some shite.
ETA: after a year the only places paint has come off is where we had to flex seal the bottom near the transom. Again, if it doesn't leak, don't go scraping shite off.
This post was edited on 7/10/14 at 11:47 am
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:50 am to TheDrunkenTigah
It is rivited, but luckily no leaks after 32 years.
I am going to rivet aluminum angle front and rear, and lay 1/8 aluminum for decks (hatch up front for TM battery access), Pedestal bases on both front and rear seats, mount for TM on bow, paint and call it a day.
I have $0 in this boat so far, so I dont mind putting a little cash into it to make it a nice rig.
I am going to rivet aluminum angle front and rear, and lay 1/8 aluminum for decks (hatch up front for TM battery access), Pedestal bases on both front and rear seats, mount for TM on bow, paint and call it a day.
I have $0 in this boat so far, so I dont mind putting a little cash into it to make it a nice rig.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:51 am to TheDrunkenTigah
I did this:
Aircraft stripper from AutoZone
Palm sander with rough grit stuff I had laying arou
Blew off with air hose
Wiped down with brake parts cleaner
2 coats self-etching primer
4 coats camo paint
On the rails, I did:
Sanded by hand
Brake parts cleaner
Bedliner
On the seats:
Same as hull, but put bedliner before primer and paint
Aircraft stripper from AutoZone
Palm sander with rough grit stuff I had laying arou
Blew off with air hose
Wiped down with brake parts cleaner
2 coats self-etching primer
4 coats camo paint
On the rails, I did:
Sanded by hand
Brake parts cleaner
Bedliner
On the seats:
Same as hull, but put bedliner before primer and paint
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:53 am to Polar Pop
Post pics when it's done, you'll be proud as hell when it is. Just take your time and don't cut corners and you'll have a badass little setup there.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 11:58 am to TheDrunkenTigah
Thanks man My FIL bought this boat new in 1982 and ran hoop nets with it for years. He is excited to see it being restored.
The motor is a 15hp electric start Evinrude that runs flawlessly.
End result will basically be this exact shot, minus the extra bench.
My FIL bought this boat new in 1982 and ran hoop nets with it for years. He is excited to see it being restored. The motor is a 15hp electric start Evinrude that runs flawlessly.
End result will basically be this exact shot, minus the extra bench.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 12:04 pm to Hammertime
I just semi-inherited a boat similar to this. Do you have finished pics? It has steering and throttle, but is not installed. do they make consoles for these kinds of boats that can house that, or am I on my own trying to custom something up?
very interested in this topic. My dad's had an impossible life with more loss than I hope I ever have to go through, it would be life changing for him if I could refinish/rebuild this thing with/for him. Identical to the OPs boat. It's in fine structural condition and has a johnson 45 in great shape as well. but other than that is very raw with a poor paint job.
very interested in this topic. My dad's had an impossible life with more loss than I hope I ever have to go through, it would be life changing for him if I could refinish/rebuild this thing with/for him. Identical to the OPs boat. It's in fine structural condition and has a johnson 45 in great shape as well. but other than that is very raw with a poor paint job.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 12:09 pm to TigerFanatic99
quote:
as steering and throttle, but is not installed. do they make consoles for these kinds of boats that can house that, or am I on my own trying to custom something up?
Do you know what make the boat is?
Mine is a tiller steer Duracraft, but just from browsing it seems that simple side consoles are pretty easy to come by.
Posted on 7/10/14 at 12:13 pm to Polar Pop
Did cousins rig same size with sand blaster then good polish with sos pads
drunkern sob but it come out good
drunkern sob but it come out good
Posted on 7/10/14 at 12:19 pm to TigerFanatic99
Someone stole it from the side of my house a couple of years ago, so no pics. Welding aluminum isn't for someone who doesn't know what they are doing. You could make it out of thinner sheet metal, brace it good, and bolt it to some aluminum brackets. Then, get a welder to weld the console into the boat
I'd also make a plate that covers all of the controls going to the console
I'd also make a plate that covers all of the controls going to the console
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News