Painting

[Phillip Allen]

I'm building a new (plywood) boat and am thinking ahead to painting. How will a good oil-based primer and oil-based paint work for a fresh-water boat?

[Dave Hadfield]

Depends on the boat and the use.

If it's a canoe, oil primer and (2x) paint on the plywood will do fine.

If it's bigger, but only in the water occasionally, same thing.

If it's kept afloat, or if it's a powerboat that takes a pounding, you're better to give the ply at least coat of epoxy, wash it with water after, then paint over that. More secure is a layer of glass, several coats of epoxy to fill, then wash and paint.

Water will eventually soak through oil paint and get into the plywood, so the longer it sits wet, the better your encapsulation should be.

[JimD]

I have fresh water oil painted plywood boats and they do very well but they are all epoxy fiberglassed. Best paints going are the 2 part polyurethanes

[Rusty]

This was a problem that nearly drove me nuts. So, like you, I asked the forum. I have a plywood boat with a fiberglas hull which will live on a trailer. A fellow replied to my question about paint. "I see that you live in Florida as do I, I came to the conclusion that my front porch will see more water that my boat will, so I used a good quality exterior laytex paint and have had no problems for the last ten years." So, I took his advice, and used American Tradition semi-gloss purchased through Lowe's. I had it tinted the color I wanted, and I laid seven coats with a roller. The finnish was just what I wanted. The clean up was great. However, It is not an anti fouling paint, if that is not a problem, then this might be the answer.

[Phillip Allen]

Thanks to all for the answers...