How To Paint Fiberglass Boat

Are you wondering how to paint fiberglass boat? Choosing a color to paint your fiberglass boat is the first step. Keep in mind a number of sources caution against using dark color paint on fiberglass boats. Serious distortion and damage to the surface of the boat have been noted.

Items needed to paint a fiberglass boat:

• Paint (polyurethane topside and an anti-fouling bottom or bottomkote)
• sand paper (80 grit)
• stripper (if previously painted)
• sealer
• sprayer, brush or roller
• wax remover
• epoxy
• wax

1. Choose a day to paint. Between 65 and 80 degrees with no or low humidity is the best weather ro proceed with this project. Humidity below 60 percent is best.
2. Remove plastic and hardware. Remove as many accessories as you can before beginning to paint a fiberglass boat. Place these items away from the area you will paint in.
3. Remove wax. If your boat has been previously painted and waxed the old wax must be removed before begininng sanding and prep to paint your fiberglass boat. Products such as PoliPrep Concentrate or New Glass 2's Pre Treat are made specifically to remove old wax. Spray or wipe the fiberglass then follow with a scrub pad to remove the wax.
4. Sand the boat. Use 80 grit sand paper to remove any remaining residue. Use a sander for quicker results.
5. Fill in dents, etc. with epoxy. Use a wet/dry (or underwater) epoxy to fill in dings, dents, etc. Products like Wet/Dry 700 are specifically made for underwater adhesion. Allow to fully dry.
6. Sand the boat again. Using the 80 grit sandpaper, sand all area's the epoxy was used on to create a seamless, flawless appearance.
7. Apply primer. Apply a no sand primer to a fiberglass boat using a roller or a brush. Allow the primer to fully dry before proceding. One day of dry time is needed.
8. Apply paint. Using a roller, brush or air sprayer to apply paint to the fiberglass boat. Allow the paint to fully dry before applying another coat, if desired. Follow manufacturers recommended number of coats to obtain the desired look.
9. Sealer. Apply sealer using a roller, brush or air spray to paint a fiberglass boat. Allow sealer to dry before applying another coat. Use 3-4 coats, following manufacturers instructions.
10. Wax. Add a coat of wax to keep barnacles, etc. from ruining your new finish on your fiberglass boat.