How To Prepare Fiberglass For Painting

Last week we discussed how to paint your aluminium boat, but what near when you own a fiberglass boat or a Fiberglass HouseBoat ? There are some tips & tricks you can follow to paint a fiberglass boat yourself.

Painting your boat will bring new life to the appearance as well every bit increment the value. Doing it yourself can take a good clamper of time, but will save you money over hiring a professional. Here are some things you volition want to know before you get started.

Preparation

This is going to exist the most crucial part of your painting job. Taking the time to prepare will save you fourth dimension and money in the future.

Clean the boat thoroughly. You should be doing this every fourth dimension yous've taken the boat out. Make sure yous apply a high-force per unit area hose, some rags and maybe even a scrapper. Anytime you make clean the boat, it is important y'all rinse thoroughly. Never leave soap lay on the boat. In addition, if you lot are planning to use Durabak, y'all'll need to launder down the surface with a non-chlorinated household detergent, such every bit Spic N Span.
Remove all hardware. To ensure a smooth and clean paint job, you'll want to remove every bit much as you tin can. If you are unable to remove something, exist sure to cover information technology with painter'south record in order to protect information technology.
Utilise a solvent to remove the wax coating. If y'all feel the waxy finish on your gunkhole, information technology must exist removed prior to painting. Pigment is unable to stick to a waxy surface.
Repair the boat's surface. This includes cracks, nicks or any corrosion. Fill up any holes with a marine-form epoxy, which tin can be constitute at near hardware stores.
Sand the gunkhole. Use an 80-dust sandpaper to sand the boat'due south surface. Make sure that all the one-time paint is removed. If you lot are using Durabak boat pigment, stick to roughing upwardly the fiberglass surface with a 40-grit sandpaper instead. On the areas with epoxy, utilise a 36-grit and be a petty more aggressive.

Painting the Boat

At present you are ready for the exciting part! You can offset past using a primer, although it is not necessary with a fiberglass boat. Be sure that the primer you are using is compatible with the paint you've chosen. After you lot've applied ane layer of primer, you can utilize a 300-grit sandpaper and lightly sand the boat before applying the next coat. You will want to begin painting within 2 hours of completing the primer for all-time results.

For those of yous that accept made the option to apply Durabak, when you go to apply a primer, choose a two-part water based epoxy. Apply it to a dry surface after the wash and rinse. Then, exercise not wipe with xylene as indicated in a higher place. Merely scuff up the epoxy with a 36-grit sandpaper before painting. If you would rather not use a primer, you can wipe down the surface with Xylene (aka Xylol - more than info here).

When yous are set to pigment, exist sure to mix your paint according to directions. Then you tin apply the first layer with a paint roller. With Durabak, you will simply open up the can and stir (be sure to stir occasionally throughout the painting process every bit well). In addition, y'all'll receive two 4" foam stipple roller sleeves with your social club.

Wait for one to two hours after the beginning coat of Durabak (or follow your paint'southward instructions) and remove any 3M blueish tape that you've applied. Then proceed, with your second glaze. Experience free to use a paint castor to arrive those difficult to reach corners.

Final Steps

To ensure the best job possible, it will exist essential that you protect the drying paint from whatever bugs or debris. Ensure that your paint has completely dried according to manufacturer guidelines. If you are using Durabak, you will want to wait 24 hours to walk on the paint and about 5 days before whatsoever heavy use or exposure to any cleaning agents.

To go on your paint looking good for many years to come up, be sure you always clean your boat completely subsequently use. Also, ensure that the boat is well protected during the winter months and kept safety from ice.

Conclusion

No matter how you lot plan to tackle your boat'south paint job, you can save a lot of coin by doing information technology yourself. In addition, taking the time to treat your boat will requite you an immense sense of pride. Make sure you lot use meridian-notch equipment and paint to achieve the best job possible. The trained professionals at Durabak are available to help you find the products that will piece of work all-time for your needs - contact u.s. today.

Want to larn more?
Check out our guide on theall-time pigment for forest!