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Preparation for Repainting a Boat

People love the freedom of riding boats on the open water. Whether it is on a lake, a river or the ocean, a boat can take a beating from such things as weather conditions, the ocean's salt or rocks in a river that may hit and damage it. An important part of restoring and repainting your boat is preparing it correctly prior to the task.

Sanding and Scraping
- Rinse the boat down with a pressure cleaner to remove the loose dirt or film. Remove any loose areas of peeling paint with a flat metal scraper approximately 4 inches wide, and sand any rough surfaces with 220-grit dry sandpaper attached to an orbital sander. Resand the areas with 220-grit wet sandpaper in a circular motion by hand. Use a sanding block and a new section of paper if it becomes worn, rewetting it as needed. At this point, the edges of any areas sanded should feel smooth when you run your hand over them. If any area still feels rough, resand it with the wet sandpaper again.
Repairing and Fiberglass
- Clean the surface of any damaged areas on the boat thoroughly and cut a piece of fiberglass cloth slightly larger than the area to be repaired. Mix fiberglass resin with the required hardener as directed, making sure to wear gloves to avoid skin contact. Place the correct piece of cloth over the damaged area and use the flat-edged tool included with the resin kit to spread a smooth, thin layer of fiberglass over it. If a tool is not included, you can use a sturdy plastic paint trough. Either a 4-inch or a 6-inch one will serve the purpose. Repeat this process with the other damaged areas and allow 24 hours for the fiberglass to harden. Sand the areas of repair with 40-grit, 150-grit and 320-grit dry sandpaper in succession until the repairs feel smooth to the touch. Spray the areas with a sandable primer. If any imperfections are apparent, apply a small amount of fiberglass and sand accordingly.
Taping, Covering and Protecting
- Place masking tape tightly over any emblems to protect them from paint. Cover any mirrors or glass with newspaper and tape, and the inside of the boat with canvas drop cloths if it's an open design. Detach any convertible overhead covering, remove all outboard motors and cover all parts to which the motors were connected. At this point, the only parts of the boat that should be exposed are the areas to be painted.
Priming
- Using an electric or gas-powered paint sprayer and a high-quality sandable primer. Spray a thin coat of primer to the boat's surface. Allow the primer to dry as directed, then check the boat for imperfections. Sand or repair any imperfections in the same manner as you did previously. When you are satisfied with the smoothness of the boat's surface, apply a second coat of primer. When all is dry, your boat is prepared to be painted.

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