To paint an aluminum boat

[Redbelly]

I know to clean it off, and ruff it up. Should i prime it?

What kind of primer, and then what for a topcoat?

Thinking of metallic purple maybe.... ....I would look good flyfishing on Miccosukkee....

[wevans]

This is a decent primer for it
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... artial/0/0

Look around or call around for some anti-corrosive aluminum primer and see what the pros have ta say

[FUTCHCAIRO]

HEY REDBELLY, I JUST FINISHED PAINTING A 18' STARCRAFT ALUM. FLATS BOAT. I FIRST WASHED AND SCRUBBED THE EXTERIOR HULL WITH A MIX OF VINEGAR AND BLEACH. 1 PART. VIN., 1 PART BLEACH, AND 1 PART LIQ. DETERGENT, TO 10 PARTS WATER. I DID THIS WITH RUBBER GLOVES USING A 000 STEEL WOOL. RINSED IT WITH A MIX OF DETERGENT 1 TO 10 , THEN RINSED IT 2 TIMES WITH HOT WATER, LETTING IT DRY BETWEEN RINSES. I THEN SANDED WITH A 350 GRIT EMORY CLOTH, RINSE OFF 2 TIMES LETTING IT DRY BETWEEN RINSES. I THEN USED A AUTOMOTIVE PRIMER , TWO COATS. THEN I APPLIED TWO COATS OF IMRON AUTOMOTIVE WHITE. SHE CAME OUT REALLY SHINY AND BRIGHT. I DID THIS TO ANOTHER ALUM. BOAT, A LUND, ABOUT 20 YRS AGO AND THAT BOAT IS STILL LOOKING GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE SCRATCHES ON THE BOTTOM RUNNIN UP ON OYSTER BARS. THE IMRON PAINT IS EXPENSIVE BUT IS BETTER THAN ANY MARINE PAINT THAT I HAVE EVER USED. IT TOOK ABOUT A QT. OF THE PAINT TO GIVE BOTH COATS.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

[catchin1]

Dude I've painted severaland they've all come out ok. I painted a Fisher thatwas bare aluminum , I useda zinc chromate primer(pretty peagreen ) then painted over. The others werealready painted and just sanded and sprayed. Figured the primeris tohelp paint stick to the aluminim,so ifit alrady had paint just shoot over it. Again it turned out ok.