Painting my boat -- what type of paint?

[declan]

Hey guys! Sorry if this is a stupid question. I'm up to the stage of painting my little rowboat! But I realized I don't know what type of paint to use.

I primed the boat with a bunch of layers of Royal brand Interior/Exterior 100% acrylic latex sealing primer. But it is an ugly white, and I want to have my boat be some nice colors.

What kind of paint should I use (that preferably won't break the bank)?

Thanks!

[gonzo]

With that primer, your choices are limited. Exterior acrylic latex is an option. They make it in any color you choose. The gloss is low. It won't hold below the waterline. The primer will peel off below the waterline too if it stays in the water too long.

[jehardiman]

Because you already have a latex base, I would use a latex porch paint for the topsides and interior. If it is going to live in the water for months, use an epoxy below the water with an anti-fouling ouver that. If it is going to get hauled every time, the porch paint will work.

[declan]

It won't sit in the water for months. I'll probably take it out for a few hours, and not very often at all. But I still don't want it to start peeling and dissolving during those few hours...

[jehardiman]

Once 100% acrylic latex has dried, it doesn't "dissolve", but rather wears off.

See this article...

http://woodenboatbuilder.multiply.com/journal/item/662

[gonzo]

A few hours at a time should be OK.

[messabout]

Commercial fisherman the world around use acryllic latex paints on boats. The stuff is more durable than Gonzo says. Here is the the problem....The stuff takes a very long time to cure. Drying is one thing, curing is quite another. This kind of paint will dry to touch in a matter of hours. It will take three to four weeks to cure. If you paint your boat on Monday and put it in the water on the following Saturday the paint will come off. Give it four weeks cure time and it will last until you are tired of the boat. The reason that this type of paint is used on small commercial fishing and work boats are two. One; it is cheap..two; it will provide long service. In addition it is easy to apply. The down side is that you can not get a really glossy finish.

How many times have you had to paint your house? Does that house paint last for several years, maybe 10 years? Of course it does. It is tough stuff.

[alan white]

More trivia: Oil based primer is still superior under acrylic latex as it penetrates the wood better than latex primer.
Don't paint oil (alkyd) based paint over latex primer, however.

[pcfithian]

My Tolman Jumbo was just painted with Valspar Duramax exterior acrylic latex, sprayed with an HVLP gun using the following mix:

Paint Floetrol Water Total Ounces
32 6 11 49

The semi-gloss finish looks outstanding. But sage advice by one of the other posters, let it cure for several weeks if you can.