Painting A Bassboat??

[(='_'=)]

basically, i have an old bass boat, it runs great, mechanically everything works, but its not pretty.... so, besides recarpeting and refurbishing the seats, i want to know what is the proper way to paint it.... right now it is white with red, i want to paint the white with smoke gray and the red with blue.

should i paint it first before installing the new carpet?? and, how do i paint it?? i was also thinking on decals, maybe i can get a good price, but i dont know how to install them, specially if the boat is sitting in the trailer.....

thanx!

[Zoff]

I do not know where you are located but I would look into a wrap. If you are in Virginia... I know a guy that does great work.

[(='_'=)]

thanx Zoff, but im a little bit south of Virginia.... in Mexico actually =)

i have a friend who has a decal shop, they label the public transport bus, and make decals and things like that... by a wrap, you mean something like that, right??

and, if i get a good deal on a wrap, how can i stick it to the boat if it sits on the trailer?? i know its a dumb question but i really cannot figure it out....

thanx!!

[Zoff]

Yes... a wrap. The wrap stops where the waterline is of just to the point of the rails. You'd be surprised how tough some of those wraps are. Get the thick 3M stuf and it will be tough and, if it tears.... easier to fix than a paint scratch.

[(='_'=)]

the wrap stops at the water line?? i thought the wrap came all the way down... i have seen the pro's boats at the trailers and the wrap covers all the boat... because if the wrap is only on the top part, what do you do with the lower part?? right now it is all stained, and definitely needs to be fixed.... i think it would look weird in the trailer with the top part all pretty and shiny and the lower part dirty and stained....

[Zoff]

You can do the whole boat. It's tough stuff. I have several of our patrol vehicles done in a wrap and it holds up to quite a bit of abuse.

[(='_'=)]

thanx!! i will get a quote on the wraps and installation and see if it is reasonable to do them... i already have an air compressor and paint gun, so that would be a plus, for paint i only need the materials....

another thing is, to apply either paint or wrap, how do you do it, if the trailer is in the way?? is there a way to unload the boat?? i have been thinking about it but i dont know how to do it...

[Zoff]

You got me on that. I would suspect it would take some scaffolding and some careful manuvering of the boat to cover it all. Was at a tourney today and saw one of the boats my buddy did.

Here is his site... Creative Edge Design

[WookieeJedi]

I had to repair the hull on my first rig. I had to take it off of the trailer and then flip it over to do the work right. Start by removing the motor, then move on to everything else that isn't bolted on. I used a couple of A-frames and several heavy yellow tow straps to get it off of the trailer, then to flip it, I just pushed it up on one side while a friend held another strap on the other side to keep it from slipping. A glass hull slides fairly easily on the nylon straps if you keep them flat. It was harder getting it flipped back upright after.

[(='_'=)]

thanx for the input!!

i just got in touch with a place that will charge me $300 for the outside wrap, installed... i have seen pics of his works and they look great, still have to see them in person, but several people locally have recommended it...

so now, im thinking about painting the inside of the boat, and then putting a wrap on the oustide... since they will install it i dont worry about that... however i will paint it myself, so now i have some different questions:

1) can you sandblast a fiberglass boat?? i need to sand all the boat to remove the paint, but i dont know if sandblas can be done without damaging the fiber... the PO painted on top of the original paint, so i have 2 layers to remove....

2) assuming the wrap is properly installed... how do you avoid tearing it when you get to shore?? where i live we dont have docks, you lower the boat on any semiflat piece of shore bank, no cement ramps or anything.... i can take care not to scrath it with the trailer, but if i "park" the boat on shore, if it hits the rocky bottom wouldnt it tear down quicky??

3) what do you think about my plan on painting the inside and wrapping the outside??

[Zoff]

I do know that painting a fiberglass body vehicle like an old Corvette, you wet sand (by hand) the body. As for tearing up the wrap... paint or wrap... you drag it on the ground, it will get torn up.

As for painting the inside... sounds like a decent plan if you take care and do it right. IIRC... there is paint specifically for boats. http://www.bottompai...nt-c-13630.html

[(='_'=)]

thanx!!

i am strongly leaning towards this plan, i just need to check how well the wraps hold if dragged on the ground. it wouldnt be dragged much, but it will definitely get in contact with rocks and soil....

i have a manual belt sander i plan on using, but sandblasting would be mucho more efficient and quick....

[GLADES]

Marine paint is very toxic to your lungs and not cheap as compared to other paints. You will need a breathing mask and protective clothes. If you do not know what you are doing, it might be a good idea to pay someone to do the paint for you. The wrap is a great idea too.

My old Ranger needs a facelift, I am going with the wrap method.

[(='_'=)]

thanx glades!!

do you think i need to use marine paint for the inside of the boat?? the outside may be getting wraps so no need to paint it, maybe only sand it.... besides i dont know if i will be able to get marine paint where i live....