Painting Fiberglass & Aluminum Boats
5 Things You NEED To Know
Interested in learning how to paint an aluminum boat, or how to paint a fiberglass boat? The process is not always easy – and it’s never fast. But if you’re looking to save some money, painting aluminum boats or fiberglass yachts yourself may be a good idea!
You can save some money on labor costs, and learn a lot more about your vessel in the process. However, painting your own boat is not easy. Here are just 5 things you should know about painting fiberglass and aluminum boats – read on, and avoid rookie DIY mistakes!
- Preparation Is Everything
Professional painters know that preparing the surface is the single most important thing for a high-quality paint job. Even if you are a great painter, a rough, unclean or damaged surface will result in a poor overall paint job quality.
When painting aluminum boats, you need to start by sanding the entire vessel with 80-grit sandpaper to remove all of the old paint. Then, switch to a 40-grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface of the metal, and ready it for the primer.
Preparing fiberglass is a bit different, but still absolutely essential. You’ll want to use a higher-grit sandpaper to prevent damage to the gelcoat surface. You may also have to fill in damaged areas of fiberglass with new layers before sanding.
And whether you are painting fiberglass or aluminum, you’ll have to ensure that your boat is completely clean before applying primer and paint. Take the time to use a boat cleaner and soap on every area that must be painted, to remove residue, sanding debris, stains, and more.
When painting, you need to give your paint enough time to dry completely before applying a new coat. This goes for both primer and paint. If you do not give your vessel enough time to dry in-between layers, the result will be a sub-par paint job.
- You’ll Be Spending A Lot Of Time On Your Boat For A DIY Paint Job
You may save quite a bit of money when you paint your boat yourself – but you make up for it in the hours spent in your driveway, or painting your yacht in dry dock.
Expect to spend several weekends working on your boat. You’ll need to give your paint ample time to dry, and it takes quite a while to sand, clean, paint, and add clear coat to your boat on your own.
- You Should Always Invest In High Quality Paint
Never cut corners when it comes to paint and primer. You want to purchase marine-grade primer and paint that is specially designed for yachts and other large watercraft. By doing so, you can ensure that all of your hard work won’t be wasted by a low-cost paint that begins to chip and peel after only a few months.
- It’s Okay To Turn To The Professionals
If you’re a boat enthusiast, you may love the idea of painting your own yacht. But it takes a long time – and the results may not be ideal unless you have previous experience doing so. If you’re not ready to paint an aluminum or fiberglass yacht on your own, you can always turn to a professional company like Chi Yacht Refinishing.
Contact Us Now – And See Our Past Work!
We’ve worked on yachts of all sizes at Chi Yacht Refinishing. Whether you’ve got a smaller pleasure cruiser or a larger, full-size yacht, we’re here to help. With a team of dedicated painting technicians, we provide the best results in Fort Lauderdale. So contact us now, and get started with your project today!