Painting Watercraft

[The Reverend Floater]

I'm going to lean on the collective here. I've got two watercraft--a beat up Old Town canoe and a faded 17' War Eagle aluminum Jon boat that need some paint love. I wanted to find out if anyone has successfully painted anything like these and where I can overlap material. Both will be a dull, coyote brown color.

I know both will require sanding and prep, which is fine. I also have a compressor, so I plan on utilizing a cheapish paint gun. Ideally I'd "rhino line" both boats' floors as I use them in icey conditions where traction is key. The war eagle is due for a new floor, so that part is easy.

Any first hand recs on the painting process? Any specific recs on paints? Any help would be appreciated.

[Mr. Multiglisse]

Assuming that the Old Town is ABS, you can use Tremclad for both boats. It is cheap and bonds well to plastic and metal. Not sure how it behaves in a sprayer but a brush or small roller will work fine. If money is no object and you want them to look stunning, then go for Epihanes marine enamel. This advice is based on my experience managing a rental canoe fleet and many long discussions with our repair tech. Those are his go-to paints for just about any canoe.

[Harry]

[iceman]

I thought about that ^^^ a coat of it couldn't hurt, could it?

[The Reverend Floater]

Assuming that the Old Town is ABS, you can use Tremclad for both boats. It is cheap and bonds well to plastic and metal. Not sure how it behaves in a sprayer but a brush or small roller will work fine. If money is no object and you want them to look stunning, then go for Epihanes marine enamel. This advice is based on my experience managing a rental canoe fleet and many long discussions with our repair tech. Those are his go-to paints for just about any canoe.

Don't need stunning but the canoe is red and in my experience, they don't hold point very well. I'll look into the tremclad.

The War Eagle like a little more cut and dry... Marine primer followed by a few coats.

[Mr. Multiglisse]

Don't need stunning but the canoe is red and in my experience, they don't hold point very well. I'll look into the tremclad.

The War Eagle like a little more cut and dry... Marine primer followed by a few coats.

Any idea what material the Old Town is made of? Given the history of the company, it could be cedar-canvas, composite, ABS (aka Royalex) or Polyethylene. The Tremclad would be a good choice for any of the first three but not much will stick to poly. Easy test for ABS vs Poly plastic boats: if the inside has a speckled, light brown finish, those wacky molded seats and the canoe is really fucking heavy, it is likely poly. If the inside is light grey and consistent color, and the canoe is simply heavy, it is likely ABS.

[The Reverend Floater]

Any idea what material the Old Town is made of? Given the history of the company, it could be cedar-canvas, composite, ABS (aka Royalex) or Polyethylene. The Tremclad would be a good choice for any of the first three but not much will stick to poly. Easy test for ABS vs Poly plastic boats: if the inside has a speckled, light brown finish, those wacky molded seats and the canoe is really fucking heavy, it is likely poly. If the inside is light grey and consistent color, and the canoe is simply heavy, it is likely ABS.

Good call... Based on your description, ABS. It would appear tremclad is Canadian?

[Mr. Multiglisse]

Good call... Based on your description, ABS. It would appear tremclad is Canadian?

Ah, yes, well there is that. I think the standard Rustoleum rust paint is pretty much the same thing. If in doubt, you could always start with this:
http://www.rustoleum.com/product-cat...plastic-primer

Then use this or something similar:
http://www.rustoleum.com/product-cat...tective-enamel

You only need a quart of paint to cover a canoe.

[sb]

These get used for water fowl shooting?

[muted]

Not sure why you wouldn't spray paint an eagle on the side of the War Eagle? Maybe with a US flag headband on it's head?

[The Reverend Floater]

These get used for water fowl shooting?

Yes sir.

Muted: the boat's name is the Battle Star Quacktica, which I think deserves a mural.

[muted]

Very nice.

Maybe something like this, but with giant robot ducks in the sky instead of spaceships:

[The Reverend Floater]

Ah, yes, well there is that. I think the standard Rustoleum rust paint is pretty much the same thing. If in doubt, you could always start with this:
http://www.rustoleum.com/product-cat...plastic-primer

Then use this or something similar:
http://www.rustoleum.com/product-cat...tective-enamel

You only need a quart of paint to cover a canoe.

Reading a lot about Bulldog primer for the canoe, which I think I'll try in conjunction with a hardening paint.

[sb]

Very nice.

Maybe something like this, but with giant robot ducks in the sky instead of spaceships:

ScottyB approves of this design.


I was going to mention a pigmented epoxy paint but I think Mr. MG has the best solution.