Summer Boat Prep – Painting
Thursday, March 13th, 2014
As you prepare your boat for spring and summer, you may come across several issues and Performance Product Technologies is here to help. Among the projects that come up during your de-winterization process may be a new paint job. Winter storage coupled with years of weathering can wear down your boat’s paint layer by layer, causing it to look faded and cracked. When this occurs, boat owners can hire someone or repaint on their own using minimal supplies.
It’s important for the boat to have a smooth surface before you begin painting. Painting a boat’s damaged exterior can lead to an uneven paint job and further damage. This is why you should always thoroughly inspect boats before having work done and getting them back in commission. Waxy residue does not make for a good painting surface – apply a solvent and sand the exterior to clear the exterior. To further ensure a smooth canvas be sure to make any repairs your boat may need. Fill in any holes or cracks with epoxy. Apply primer in layers, leaving a few hours between each layer. Apply paint layers in a similar fashion.
When painting your boat there are different types of paint available to you. There are several factors to consider –
- What type of boat do you have?
- What material is the boat made of?
- How often do you use the boat?
- What type of paint was on the boat previously?
You may want to try advanced ablative paints, whose layers wear away predictably. Hard bottom paints are the best option for durability, while high-performance bottom paints are ideal for minimizing water friction with high-speed boats.