I've just come into a small two man wooden boat (12') that has been in the rafters of a garage for 30+ years. It is in great shape and I hope to get my little boy out on it for some muskie fishing. It does however need a coat or two of bottom paint. Any idea what to use? Is it as simple as WeatherBeater paint or do I need something more specific? It would not be staying in the water when not in use. I am thinking it is cedar or cyprus.
Bottom paint old wooden boat
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sweettractors
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When I was a kid, growing up my Dad and I spent a lot of time on Green River here in Ky Muskie fishing and in 1959 Dad caught 3 rd place in the sate with a 21 + pounder on 8 lb test line. He painted the bottom of his 12 ft home made wooden boats with oil based enamel. Today, I would think either that or some epoxy paint would hold up well on the boat. Ken Sweet
beenthere
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Bottom paint, as in the outside of the bottom or the inside of the bottom?
As important as the new paint, is what is on it for 'old' paint and how that old surface is prep'd.
Also, how dried out is the wood, and will one need to submerge it to swell the wood tight before painting, or have it swell after painting and pop the paint. ?? to ponder.
Is the wood covered with fiberglass, or not?
Depending on conditions, I'd consider a good two-part epoxy finish and not cover any areas that may have dry rot.
As important as the new paint, is what is on it for 'old' paint and how that old surface is prep'd.
Also, how dried out is the wood, and will one need to submerge it to swell the wood tight before painting, or have it swell after painting and pop the paint. ?? to ponder.
Is the wood covered with fiberglass, or not?
Depending on conditions, I'd consider a good two-part epoxy finish and not cover any areas that may have dry rot.
MarkV
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Not sure if it applies to your boat but if it has been at rest for more than 30 years you may want to be cautious of lead based paint when stripping and sanding for paint prep. Not to bad with a good mask for adults, not good for young ones though.
MarkV
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I agree about the paint possibly having a high lead content...
Normally.."bottom paint" is only used when a boat is meant to remain in the water..."bottom paint" is formulated to prevent the growth of marine alge, barnicles etc.etc...
It's been about 10 years since the powers that be have completely changed bottom paint...the new paint will not adhere to the older (high lead) bottom paint...it has to be sand blasted off...with proper containment of the old paint...it is a costly process...
However I would speculate that your boat was not painted with marine bottom paint (even long ago bottom paint was very expensive compared to regular paint and) unless the boat was meant to remain in the water, there would be no need to use it...
Normally.."bottom paint" is only used when a boat is meant to remain in the water..."bottom paint" is formulated to prevent the growth of marine alge, barnicles etc.etc...
It's been about 10 years since the powers that be have completely changed bottom paint...the new paint will not adhere to the older (high lead) bottom paint...it has to be sand blasted off...with proper containment of the old paint...it is a costly process...
However I would speculate that your boat was not painted with marine bottom paint (even long ago bottom paint was very expensive compared to regular paint and) unless the boat was meant to remain in the water, there would be no need to use it...
studor
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I think I would be tempted to check the hull, sand any rough or flaking spots and then give it a coat of West System two part marine epoxy (coloured if desired). I have used it on a few old wooden punts that were in tough shape and used then for quite a few more years.
user.69169
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Good lord when we was kids we made boats from nothing but sticks and feed sacks and painted them sacks with all the old paint we could round up and stirr together. Why you making such a complecated issue out of painting the bottom of a wood boat?
Round up all the cans of oil paint you can find, and a bunch of canvas cloth that ain't rottin and have at. If you can't find feed sack go get some burlap over to the fabric store. Put a good coat of paint onto the bottom and press the fabric into the paint while still wet. If you afraid to get paint on your hands use some drycleaning bags over the fabric, and use one of them small paint rollers on top of th e plastic to roll the bubbles out, or just a good round rolling stick. Tack the fabric up onto the sides to cover where the boards meet up. Then you sit back and let it dry, pull the plastic off and trim up the fabric. Then you put another coat or 2 of paint on, let it dry and you got yourself a dryfoot boat. Fact for true, you don't even need the wood boat if you want light that a kid can handle, just frame up the shape and tack cloth on, then paint both sides of the cloth a couple coats.
If you can't come onto oil paint get a bucket of the plastic roof coating, without the fibers and use that. Thing about the roof coat though you going to wear some every time you use the boat, but you can solve that mostly by dusting rice hulls on the plastic stuff before you go boating.
Round up all the cans of oil paint you can find, and a bunch of canvas cloth that ain't rottin and have at. If you can't find feed sack go get some burlap over to the fabric store. Put a good coat of paint onto the bottom and press the fabric into the paint while still wet. If you afraid to get paint on your hands use some drycleaning bags over the fabric, and use one of them small paint rollers on top of th e plastic to roll the bubbles out, or just a good round rolling stick. Tack the fabric up onto the sides to cover where the boards meet up. Then you sit back and let it dry, pull the plastic off and trim up the fabric. Then you put another coat or 2 of paint on, let it dry and you got yourself a dryfoot boat. Fact for true, you don't even need the wood boat if you want light that a kid can handle, just frame up the shape and tack cloth on, then paint both sides of the cloth a couple coats.
If you can't come onto oil paint get a bucket of the plastic roof coating, without the fibers and use that. Thing about the roof coat though you going to wear some every time you use the boat, but you can solve that mostly by dusting rice hulls on the plastic stuff before you go boating.
arpt209
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Last time I painted a wooden boat I used Spar Enamel. Spar is the brand name. There is also Spar Varnish. I just bought a can of Spar Varnish for my wife to use to clear coat the kitchen countertops. The Spar Enamel or varnish were made specifically for painting boat hulls.
alchemysa
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I'd be putting it in the with water first to locate any leaks.