Features of PVC boat paints and how to choose the composition, methods of application
To paint a boat, you need to choose the right base material. Boats made of PVC, aluminum, duralumin or wood are coated with paints with enhanced protective properties, since the main purpose of the floating device is to constantly be in the water. Narrow-profile formulations are produced by companies specializing in the production of materials with special qualities.
Characteristics of paint materials for boats
There are several types of paint materials used to coat boat hulls. Each of them is designed to cover a specific material and has particular properties.
| Kinds | Features |
| Polyurethane | Strong, long-lasting compounds that are applied to the body using a spray bottle. To make the coating durable, polyurethane compounds are applied in 2-3 layers. |
| Oil glazes | Oily enamels are used to paint wooden or plastic boats.Oil formulations only adhere well to one coat of a suitable primer, which ensures the best adhesion of materials. If aluminum boats are painted with oily enamel, a paint that does not contain lead particles should be chosen. |
| Epoxy | Epoxy paints are used to coat the underbody. The base element of the paint is epoxy resin. It is not applied to the aluminum body, but when painting wooden or PVC boats, this type of material is in demand. The resins create a protective layer with a durable and flexible coating. |
| alkyd | Alkyd paints have medium coating strength. The advantages of alkyds are considered to be the presence of various glossy shades, as well as the ability to apply paint to the surface in any possible way. |
| Acrylic | Acrylic compounds are durable coatings that are resistant to various environmental influences. |
When preparing for painting, special attention is paid to the choice of primers. They are responsible for the adhesion between layers and contribute to the creation of a more durable layer of paint and varnish.
How to choose the right paint
The paint for coating the boat is selected based on the characteristics of the material from which the boat is made. Some paints are categorically contraindicated when painting aluminum boats, but they cope well with the surface of plywood boats.
For aluminum boat
Aluminum flotation devices are strong and durable and require special care. Repairs are carried out periodically, renewing the paint, reinforcing the bottom and internal parts.
Aluminum boats are painted using one of the recommended methods:
- Powder method.This is the application of powder paints using special tools. Powder coating is only possible after special treatment with chemicals. It is applied after priming and stripping. A spray gun designed to apply powder compositions only works from the electrical network if the necessary pressure rises inside the device to turn the powder into paint.
- Anodizing.This method involves the creation of a special oxide film on the surface of aluminum with the help of additional devices. It is impossible to cover the boat in this way at home.
When choosing anodizing, it should be borne in mind that the surface will be painted gray-green. If you cover the boat with powder, you can independently choose shades and experiment with colors.
For PVC and plastic
PVC boats are quite common, they are convenient to store, assemble and disassemble. It is customary to use plastic boats for household needs. For painting PVC or plastic surfaces, paint and varnish materials that are resistant to mechanical or chemical stress are purchased.
Some anglers prefer to cover PVC with a special film, without using paints and varnishes. This technique is suitable for those who are ready to repair a vehicle every season.
The fiberglass housings, which are additionally impregnated with epoxy resin, are coated with paints with high water-repellent properties. In addition, boat bottoms are treated with a composition such as antifouling, which prevents the growth of algae.
For wooden boats
To paint a wooden boat, you need to choose a material that is highly water-repellent and creates a durable, damage-resistant finish.
Before painting a tree, it is treated with special fluids to ensure the preservation of the material. The impregnation of the wood is an antiseptic which promotes adhesion and protects the surface. It is better to choose a type of impregnation that combines with all types of paint and varnish finishes. The impregnation is applied with a wide brush, then left to dry completely.
Wooden boats are most often painted with white lead with the addition of various colors. This allows you to achieve different shades. The last step is the varnishing. Varnish increases the strength of the coating, prevents wooden elements from cracking.
For plywood boats
Boats or boats constructed from plywood should be painted with epoxy paints. Working with plywood boats involves several steps:
- Impregnation of plywood with moisture. For this, special formulations are used. If the plywood is not well treated against moisture, the body material will swell after several uses.
- Sharpening. After drying, the body is cleaned with sandpaper.
- Padding. All small cracks and defects are covered with a coat of a primer mixture compatible with the chosen paint. Linseed oil or red lead are often used as a primer.
Attention! The plywood cases are coated with four layers of enamel.
Floating ship painting technology
Self-tinting a boat is a complex and expensive procedure. To achieve the creation of the most durable coating, it is necessary to properly prepare the vehicle and purchase all the necessary accessories for operation.
Remove old paint
The first step is to remove the old coating and at the same time remove adhering dirt and algae. The surface is cleaned with a special solvent. It is applied to the entire coloring area with a thin layer, left for 30 minutes. After that, the wash is removed with a cord brush.
The cleaned area is washed twice with washing powder, wiped dry and left to dry naturally.
The best option is to leave the boat upside down in the sun.
Rust cleaning
For metal enclosures, it is important to go through a preparation step such as rust removal. To get rid of traces of corrosion, it is necessary to use special converters. Funds are applied to the surface, wait 1 hour.
During this time, the particles of the applied converter react with traces of corrosion and form a white foam. It comes off with a cloth or a brush.
Putty and primer
Puttying is an irreplaceable step with some peculiarities. Applying too much primer changes the density of the hull, making the boat too heavy. For some boats, exceeding these limits will result in heeling when launching.
This can be avoided by choosing the right composition of primer and filler. You should not apply dense layers, and you should also use sandpaper at each stage of processing.
Before processing the body, remove all irregularities and protrusions. Then take the putty. First, it is applied to areas where irregularities are noticeable or there is an overlap of the panels.
It is better to use a filler in a color that contrasts with the main shade of the boat.This will allow you to see how much product has been applied and to control its amount.
After applying the filler to the entire surface, they begin to look for subtle flaws and irregularities on the body. For this, wide metal rulers and scrap glass are used. After detecting irregularities, they are processed with a spatula of maximum width.
The final stage is the elimination of minor defects. They are covered with small spatulas. The maximum number of putty layers applied is 5 or 6.
After creating the putty finish, any height differences between layers are smoothed out with #120, 240, or 360 sandpaper.
The next step is priming. For him, special primers are purchased in gray or white. Primer is the base of the paint material, so it's best to use a mixture that's compatible with your paint of choice.
Reference! The result of the putty is a flat surface that reflects the glare of the sun.
Side and bottom painting
For boat dyeing, choose a warm, dry day with around 60% humidity. 10-20 minutes before painting, the entire surface of the primed body is additionally treated with fine-grained emery paper. This technique increases the adhesion between the materials to be used. The paint is applied with a spray gun, roller or brush. The maximum number of coats of paint should not exceed three.
First, the background is painted. This section bears the greatest load. The bottom wears out faster than the rest of the boat. To coat the metal, an anti-corrosion compound with additional moisture-proofing properties is used.
The bottom is covered up to the waterline, then the sides are covered.It is more convenient to apply paint to the sides from a spray bottle. It lays flat, does not create streaks and uneven strokes.
Paint the inside of the boat
Once the bottom and side walls are completely dry, they begin to finish the interior of the boat. For this, acrylic paints are chosen; yacht varnish is used to create a brilliant shine on wooden surfaces.
If the parts inside the case can be removed, then they are painted separately, and after the paint is completely dry, they are reassembled.
Protection of the painted surface
The last stage of the repair is the protection of the painted surface against microorganisms that live in the aquatic environment. On all floating installations, except for aluminum ones, yar-copper green lead is used. This paint is formed by a complex chemical reaction between copper and acetic acid.
To protect the aluminum case, a special paint is used, to which toxic substances have been added. The protective layer is applied after the bottoms and sides are completely dry. Most often, a spray gun or a wide brush is used for this.
Recommendations from the masters
Those who repair a boat for the first time have many questions about working with paints and varnishes.
Expert tips and tricks:
- It is recommended that aluminum boat hulls be primed with phosphating primers. Thirty minutes before the treatment, a thinner or zinc white is introduced into it. Additionally, it is recommended that aluminum or duralumin enclosures be painted zinc white with a linen base. If you galvanize a duralumin case with two coats of white, a strong protective coating will form on its surface, which will insulate the metal from water.
- Nitro paints are only applied to degreased metal, otherwise the layers will not cling. White spirit is used to degrease the surface. After applying this degreaser, you do not need to wait until the surface is completely dry.
- A one-component, water-based polyurethane paint is excellent for PVC boats. It gives a semi-gloss finish, resists up to 30 castings without loss of quality. Masters advise using dark colors to extend the life of the material.
- An interesting option for creating an original pattern on the background is the use of natural stencils. This method involves applying herbs and leaves to the body in a chaotic manner, and then applying several layers of enamel. This approach creates a beautiful and unusual pattern on the surface.
- It is recommended to remove oil contamination from the surface of the housing with a soapy solution prepared from dishwashing liquid.
- Special boat stands are used to place the boat. If support is not available, then you can put the flotation device on the cinder blocks spaced across the width of the boat.
- If the painted inflatable boat gives a shiny shine, these areas can be dusted with baby powder. This will remove the glare.
It is important to paint boats and yachts until a perfectly flat surface is obtained. This is because any irregularity causes the movement to slow down when the boat is launched.