Painting the skiff...

[Thermo]

So, I'm at the point where I'm ready to paint the plywood SummerBreeze. This boat will live out of the water.

Here's the paint I have at my immediate disposal:

Krylon Industrial Oil-based Enamel, OSHA Blue. Lead-free, rustproof.

Same in white, green, safety orange. I got them from a jobsite where they were throwing away the samples.

I'd like to use this stuff, and not go out and buy more paint. Is it going to make the plywood fall apart or something?

thanks

[Thorne]

If you are painting over epoxy, be sure to both sand and wash (with water) the surface to remove any blush that could cause paint to not adhere.

If painting over bare wood, use a primer -- oil-based should be best for oil-based paints. Or use CPES, painting over it when the last coat is partially cured.

Let's see what the more experienced folks say...

[Spokaloo]

Thermo, as long as you coat the edges of the plywood with either epoxy, penetrating glue/sealant, or some magical chemical, you are golden. I have used some pretty random paints with some pretty crappy plywood and had no issues. If you do not cover the ply edges with glue, or glue your gunnels to your ply edges (covering them), then paint the living hell out of them, with at least 4-6 coats of paint.

I have had 2 canoes and a rowboat last 3 years with ZERO upkeep and left in the water for long periods with oil based house paint. Worked good enough for me.

For more perspective, on the boats that cost me more than $1000 to build, I use marine paints.

E

[Thermo]

Ok, So I sealed the plywood edges with glue and painted the bottom.

1. No paint thinner within 25 miles of this place... so it went on unthinned. It's still tacky 12 hours later. (24 since the first coat)

2. It beads up and rolls off silicone caulk :( So on the inside, I'm going to coat all the caulk with something...

Still, nice to see that plywood shine with a few coats of paint.

[Thorne]

Silicone caulk? If the builder approves that he's really looking for cheap alternatives to trad materials, as you rarely see that stuff used on boats, particularly below the waterline. The PL Premium doesn't really sand but should take paint OK once it is cured....

Best of luck and more pics!

[Thermo]

The silicone caulk was my addition. I think the PL will seal fine with the notched troweling, but I thought it would look nice, particularly inside the boat, if the corners were caulked. Some inpulsive part of me then thought: "Hey, let's do the bottom as well!" And I caulked the corner where the board-keel meets the flat bottom. That's the spot giving me trouble.

Here's a pic of the painted bottom in the dark room in my basement. Don't laugh now:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/smagmags/bluebottom2.jpg