Painting aluminum boat

[jay-jay]

I have a 1973 Starcraft Chieftan 21 ft. Aluminum
I would like to know what I can paint this boat with , all the paint has been stripped off . I am on a very tight budget and want to paint the hull one color ,one paint for above and below waterline . Boat will be trailered.

[Noah's]

Most aluminum boats are only painted above the waterline, and should never have a copper containing antifouling used on the bottom. The easiest way to repaint above the waterline is sand the original coating but do not take it off, then use a two part polyurethane. A good quality Enamel may stick but it will be iffy. Bare aluminum requires an Etch and Wash treatment in order to get primer and paint to stick

[Bill McNamara]

I stripped all of the old paint off the topsides & inside of a LUND fishing boat, did the acid-etch step (easy), and painted with INTERPROTECT 2000 epoxy barrier, and no top/colour coat.
Paint is holding up perfectly, after one season.
Have used the same procedure on aircraft floats for years, with excellent results. Topcoated these with ENDURA 2 part polyeurethane. Very tough paint!
Bill.

[Benjamin]

I would like to know what I can paint this boat with , all the paint has been stripped off . I am on a very tight budget and want to paint the hull one color ,one paint for above and below waterline . Boat will be trailered.

[Noah's]

Etch and wash + primer + two part polyurethane paint would look great and be very durable, but also expensive. For the budget route try sanding with about 180 grit, put on an automotive type metal primer as soon as possible, and finish with a good quality enamel paint. If the boat stays in the water for more than a couple of weeks you may get some blisters below the waterline but otherwise it should stand up reasonably well.