Boats are nice to have for fishing or just for leisure at the beach and visiting nearby islands. You can invite friends over during the summer and enjoy the heat of the sun.

Owning a boat is also a lot of work as it is fun. Especially when the paint starts wearing off. But it’s good to know that you can always repaint your boat and make it look like newly-bought again.

Prepare the following tools below to start working:

  • Cleaning Materials (soap, brush, and water)
  • Plastic cover (to protect the area where you’re painting)
  • A sander
  • A paint thinner
  • A primer
  • Paint color of your choice (water-resistant)
  • Clearcoat (water-resistant)
  • Paint spray or roller

Painting Your Aluminum Boat

Step 1: Wear your PPE. It’s always important to be on the safe side rather than being sorry later when accidents happen.

Step 2: Dock your boat and have it raised from the ground so you can work on it properly. You may need help from friends to do this job. Have some sawhorses to support the boat while doing the work.

Step 3: Start prepping the boat and grab your sander. Start sanding all the areas in the boat—both inside and outside. Make sure every spot was sand, and no spot was missed. You have to be patient on this part, especially when you’re trying to take off some old paint and rust. Make sure it’s smooth so the paint will look good once applied.

Step 4: Once you’ve finished sanding the entire boat, you may now start cleaning it. Prepare a pail of water filled with soap and water. Grab your high-quality brush and start brushing the entire boat. Ensure that no old paint or rust was left in the boat. Rinse it with pressure water for a perfect clean effect. Let the boat dry. (To make the cleaning faster, ask some help from family and friends.)

Step 5: Once the boat has completely dried up, prep your painting materials. But before that, make sure you’ve covered the floor and the entire work area with plastic cover. This is to prevent the paint from smothering around it and leaving any paint stains. Make sure you wear gloves as well.

Step 6: The first thing you need to apply is the primer. You can pick either a paint thinner or an oil-based primer for this task. Get an empty paint spray and fill it up with a primer.

Step 7: Start spraying the entire boat with primer. Start spraying on the front part, then work on with the backside afterward. Make sure that you’ll give enough time for the primer to dry up before you apply the paint. Drying can take up to a long time, so patience is the key.

Step 8: Once it has dried up completely, you can now start painting the boat by applying the first coating on the front part. Dry the paint and paint the back part of the boat. Then dry it once again.

Step 9: To achieve that excellent vibrant color, apply the second coating. Just follow step 9 when repainting.

Step 10: Grab another empty paint sprayer and fill it with a clear coat. Spray it to the entire boat until it’s well coated. The clear coat helps the paint last for a long time and prevent gunk and rust from forming over time. Let it dry before taking it down for use.

Step 11: Clean up the work area and throw away all the garbage properly. If you used paintbrush or rollers for this task, rinse and soak it right away to get rid of the paint. The same goes for the paint sprays.

Step 12: Store all your equipment and tools at a safe place so you can still use it the next time you need it. Don’t let it lay around messy and dirty in your area.

Key Takeaway

Aluminum Boat is a luxury to have, especially when you’re using it for leisure purposes only. But if you’re using it as part of your business or livelihood, extra care is truly needed.

Part of being a responsible owner is to be able to handle and care for your boat well. Constant use and exposure to moisture and salt can erode the boat surface pretty fast. That’s why regular maintenance checks are required to ensure that your boat will always be in the best shape.

Maintenance checks are crucial, so you get to know what the boat needs and if it’s still functioning well with zero issues. It’s through checking when you know if the boat needs new paint or not. New paint will prevent your boat from attracting dirt and rust that damages the outer part of the boat.

What kind of paint do you use on an aluminum boat?

The easiest and most popular paint for your boat is the aluminum boat paint green or Aluma Hawk (white, blue, Jon boat green, black, aluminum grey, sand). These are both a paint/primer in one that can be applied to most surfaces with little preparation needed.

Can you paint over old paint on aluminum boat?

Just like painting fiberglass or wood, painting an aluminum boat begins with sanding away old paint and oxidation until you‘re left with clean, shiny metal. This usually requires 80 or 100 grit sandpaper, which will leave behind some scuff marks. Don’t worry – this is a good thing.

How do I paint my aluminum boat myself?

By mixing a pint of paint thinner into a gallon of primer, you will make it easier to work into the small breaks of the boat. Use a paint sprayer for an even coat or you can always choose to go with a brush or roller. Spray your primer on one side, allow it to dry and then turn the boat over to do it on the other side.

Can I spray paint an aluminum boat?

Apply aluminum boat paint

Choose a water-resistant marine paint that adheres to aluminum. Using a sprayer or brush, paint the inside of the boat first. Paint in horizontal strokes for an even coat. The inside coat should dry for 12 hours or so before you paint the exterior.

What paint do you use on aluminum?

Choose acrylic or latex paint formulated for use on metal (and if you’re painting an outdoor item like aluminum patio furniture, don’t forget to pick a paint labeled “exterior grade”).

How much does it cost to paint an aluminum boat?

Aluminum boats don’t hold paint the same way as fiberglass as started earlier and require a different process. We charge 25-35 a ft depending on the shape of the hull, also all the required resources. Paint usually runs $100 our cost and for a 20 ft boat will take around a gallon.

What is the best bottom paint for aluminum boats?

Can you use rustoleum on aluminum boat?

The bottom paint needs to be applied the same day as the Tuff Stuff marine epoxy primer. Bottom paints in general are designed to repel hard growth. Colorkote is an excellent triple biocide bottom paint for aluminum hulls when in salt water. We recommend Mission Bay for fresh water.

Can you paint a boat yourself?

I used Rustoleum aluminum/galvinanized metal primer on my boat. It is water based, and gets thinned with water to spray. I then used their Oil based paint to finish, and found out the hard way that temp is everything. You need to follow the directions on the can in regards to temp and humidity for painting.

What is the best paint for a boat?

Can I paint a boat with car paint?

However, anyone can do a bang-up job painting a boat if they make sure the surface has been properly prepped, and take care during the application. Single-Part Polyurethane Paints – Urethane paints are also easy to apply, don’t cost nearly as much as two-part polyurethanes, and have a long-lasting gloss.

Do you need special paint for fiberglass?

When using car paint, you can paint over with urethane topcoat in cases of a smooth gel coat. While the paint isn’t as robust as a gel coat, it’s a viable choice for enhancing the appearance of an older boat. If you have a faded boat, the best option is to sand it with ultra-fine sanding paper.

Do I need to prime fiberglass before painting?

Acrylic Latex

Acrylic paint adheres well to fiberglass, overcoming one of the main challenges to painting this material. Acrylic paint is less likely to break and blister, and will hold up well to cleaning. This water-based paint is easy to apply, and contains fewer chemicals, so is more environmentally friendly.

What is the best paint for a fiberglass boat?

Fiberglass can be painted successfully. You have to look at it as though you were painting plastic. Paint: Topcoat with two coats of quality, exterior, 100% acrylic latex paint. To keep your steps from becoming slippery when wet, add non-slip sand texture additive to the topcoat.

How do you bottom paint a boat for the first time?

To paint fiberglass, you’ll need to buff it with sandpaper, apply a primer, then paint it. If you’re using a spray paint or latex-acrylic paint, you’ll need to apply a coat or 2 of primer first to help it stick. Make sure you let the primer and paint dry between coats.

What kind of paint should I use on my boat deck?

The best paints available, in terms of durability and gloss retention, are the two-part polyurethane type paints. These paints are very thin, requiring multiple coats. However, they chemically harden to a very durable finish that will last for many years.

Can I use spray paint on fiberglass boat?

  1. Sand and Clean: Sand to a uniformly frosty, dull looking surface with 80-100 grit (no finer) sandpaper, remove any residue.
  2. Apply Bottom Paint: Apply minimum of two coats of bottom paint. Allow 3 to 6 hours between coats and a minimum overnight dry. See the specific Technical Data Sheet for antifoulant being used.