Grumman Sportboat - Refurbish Question

Andrew H

Member
I'm the proud new owner of a 1974 Grumman Sportboat. It's in excellent condition except for some heavy oxidation. I need to remove the oxidation so I can paint the boat for this coming season. Does anyone have experience using Alumiprep 33 to remove oxidation? I'm curious how messy of a process it is. I would like to do this project inside my garage, but I understand that within 2 - 5 minutes of being applied, the Alumiprep needs to be rinsed off. Does this mean a full spraying with a hose, or can the Alumiprep be removed with a wet rag?

Sanding the oxidation off is the other option, but it kills me to scratch the boat up so badly with 80 girt sand paper. I know the scratches will help hold paint, but I plan to use a self-etching primer which should adhere well without all of the scratches.

Thanks in advance for any information or advice.


Here are some pics:


View attachment IMG_0530.jpgView attachment IMG_0532.jpg
 
On aluminum I,ve always used stainless steel wire wheel on grinder. Go over entire boat just hard enough to clean aluminum. After use 50/50 mixture of white vinegar & water. let set on surface for a bit than rinse. after completely dry prime with self etching primer and topcoat with FME of your choice. I,ve had excellent life from Parkers but others are available. Have tried the FME available from Home Depot but not a fan of it.
 
Have tried the FME available from Home Depot but not a fan of it.[/quote said:
I purchased the FME Home Depot with intentions of painting my boat this summer. If you don't mind my asking what is it that you didn't like about the paint?
 
Didn,t hold up like parkers. Seemed top be of a thinner consistency right out of can and coverage wasn,t as good. With parkers I thin 10% and spray. Just did a 16' x 48" jon project this spring inside & out. 2 coats sprayed w/power painter and took about 3/4 gal. parkers to get good coating. With home depot brand it takes more when spraying.
 
Andrew,
Inserted below are the instructions I received from a paint store along the Detroit River for painting aluminum boats. I used them to paint a 14' Starcraft probably 15 years ago. That paint is still holding up fine. You can't cut corners painting aluminum.

Larry

Instructions on painting aluminum boats from Boater?s Value Store in Wyandotte, Michigan

1) Use TSP and water to clean boat
2) Sand painted areas with 220 sandpaper, just to get the gloss off
3) Clean dust and sand with lacquer thinner (not paint thinner)
4) Use Zinc Chromate #6455 etching primer on bare parts; follow instructions on can; one coat only
5) Follow this with Zinc Chromate 6462 primer over parts that were etched; use two coats; (#4 etches the aluminum; #5 is the actual primer)
6) Paint per preferred color and paint.
 
Back
Top