How to Customize the Hull Color of Your Boat
Owning a boat is a lot like owning a car than is very easy to personalize. Essentially, a boat is nothing more than a floating hull, and everything else from the power source to the color to the accessories can be changed. Whether you have a wooden boat, a fiberglass boat or any one of the many other more exotic materials, you can change the hull color of your boat much more easily than you can paint a car. You are only limited in the color scheme of the hull of your boat by your imagination (and wallet).
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Instructions
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Prepping a Fibreglass Hull
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Remove the wax using a strong wax solvent. This step is critical if you want your next coat of paint to stick.
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Fill any scratches or gouges with epoxy putty and let it dry. Sand down any patches with 60 and then 80 grit sand paper. A power sander is recommended.
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3
Prime the hull with a primer specifically designed to soften the gel coat and fiberglass. This will provide a good surface for your paint to adhere to. Optionally, you can sand the entire hull, but priming can actually provide a better adhesion surface, plus it is easier! Use a roller to provide a nice, even coat of the primer.
Prepping a Wood Hull
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If your wooden hull boat was painted, sand the gloss off with 120 grit paper using a power sander. If paint flakes off, sand down to bare wood.
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If your hull was previously unpainted, sand it smooth with 80 grit paper, then apply a wood filler primer. After allowing this filler to dry, sand the hull again with 120 grit paper to provide a smooth surface.
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Now, on both types of wooden hulls, sand and prime (and sand again) until you achieve a completely smooth hull.
Painting the Hull
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Decide on the color scheme. You may want to go with a single color, a faded color, a picture or anything else. It's entirely up to you!
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Prep the hull of your boat. See the previous sections for instructions depending on what type of hull your boat has. This step is perhaps the most important. Remove all the hardware, such as handles, loops and name plates before prepping.
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Apply the finish coats after prepping. The type of paint you will choose will depend on whether you have a wooden or fiberglass boat. The fiberglass will require urethane paint, while the wooden hull will require an oil-based paint.
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Use the roll and tip method for both types of hulls unless you are an expert with a paint spray gun. This technique requires two people to apply, but it leaves a nice smooth coat. The first person goes along the boat and applies the paint in a thin layer with the roller. The second person follows closely behind to smooth out the pain with a foam brush. If you apply two or more good, thin coats, no sanding should be necessary.
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Allow the paint to dry between coats. 24 hours is usually more than enough, but check your paint's specifications. If you let it go too long between coats, you may have to sand between coats.
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Put your boat back together. Re-attach your name plates, handles, engine, etc. Aside from putting your boat back in the water, this might be the most satisfying step.
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Tips & Warnings
Be certain to apply paints that fall within environmental regulations.
Use brushes and rollers that are compatible with your paint type.
