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Will Acrylic Paint Work on the Exterior of a Wooden Boat?

Wooden boats need painting. It protects the wood from pollution, rotting and makes the boat look good. If a small boat owner decides to do his own painting, he needs to know what type of paint will work. With regard to acrylic paint the simple answer is yes. But that simple answer requires more information to provide the necessary guidance.

Preparation
- A successful paint job on a wooden boat using acrylic paint requires preparation. The wood on the boat needs to be stripped of all old paint. A thorough cleaning is next. Any holes or cracks in the wood need to be filled with timber filler and then sanded. Application of a wood preservative follows and when dry, the boat is ready for a primer coat. That is the last step before using the acrylic paint.
Paint
- Acrylic paint is manufactured using synthetic polymers or plastics. The paint includes pigments for color, resins and additives. These ingredients produce a thick paint that sticks well to wood and resists cracking. It also contains solvents which produce the correct thickness and then evaporate as the paint dries.
Application
- Following the preparation and paint selection, the next step toward a successful paint job on a wooden boat is application. The acrylic paint must be applied correctly. Spray painting requires an indoor location, proper equipment for spraying and safety equipment for the person applying the paint. This is the fastest method and also the most expensive unless you already have the equipment and access to an indoor location. Brush painting is slow but can provide a good paint job. Using a roller is faster; use a brush in addition to follow up and fix the imperfections.
Results
- Acrylic paint gives a wooden boat a good looking paint job that also protects. Make sure you follow all the preparation steps or the paint will not be effective. A good paint will not work on an unprepared surface.

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