No problem 'long as you've etched and barrier coated the aluminum first.


Jeff

I used the two part epoxy paint on the hull ('cause I hope to never have to do that again) but I'm gonna try the rustoleum on the cabin top and cockpit top...haven't decided what to use on the main deck.

Go the boat in late (July 6th) and have had extremely crappy weather most of the summer....it's been raining for eight days!

Marine paint is grossly overpriced. You can buy Tractor paint for $9 a quart. Equivalent boat paint will cost you $26. That said, you are asking for trouble using anything but a good Marine paint. It is the least expensive part of the job considering the time you will invest. Pick a paint you can roll on or roll and tip. Pick a paint with complete techinical application instructions for spray. brush or roller.

I got an new $800 HVLP turbine spray system that gave me nothing but trouble. It worked OK on the smaller side areas where I was close in and could see what I was doing. I did send the flybridge and side cowls out to an auto painter. They did a good job. They used a compressor driven HVLP gun in a paint booth. Their gun just atomized the paint better than my turbine driven unit.

I had trouble spraying the larger deck areas. Primer and Top coat were same color and wearing a mask and only having 30" arms I could not get good coverage in one session. I used a new foam kneeling pad to get up on the deck for a second coat. It arrived from china loaded with mold release agent that I pressed into my work and ruined the whole job. Painting outside in Michigan in the rain, dew, dust and heat is hard. Should be inside with temp 65-75 degrees and low humidity.

I also didn't realize how much old wax was on the darn boat until I started cleaning up the railings I removed. Make sure you get it all off before you sand it into the substrate. I don't know what to tell you what to use to de-wax because I haven't discovered the best way yet. I tried a Dawn, clorox TSP mixture. I tried Bar Keepers Friend. This was after I tried MEK followed with Toluene but the fumes were scary. This cleaning is apart from the metal cleaner you rub out fingerprints and bug dirt before spraying.

Bottom line is even though my paint is not designed for roll and tip I bought a bought a mohair 1/4" knap roller and a paint pad and a good camel brush try out. The Propane company sent a guy out to paint their tank. He was done in three hours. He had a metal pan a roller and a brush which he left in the trash. He did a darn good job I would have been satisfied to have on my decks. I'll bet his paint didn't cost $26 a quart.