BWCA Painting old town canoe Boundary Waters Group Forum: Boat Builders and Repair
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      Painting old town canoe     

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Ramrat
member (12)member
  
08/02/2020 09:02PM  
I bought an old town sportsman 15. That some one painted green years ago. I sanded all the old paint of and bought some green camo paint from bass pro shop. Should i primer it before I paint it again? The canoe started its life as red.
 
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08/03/2020 08:13PM  
If this is one of Old Town's polyethylene boats it is difficult to create a durable finish. I looked at Bass Pro camo paints. One is enamel, the other a flat oil-based paint. Make sure you get a primer that is going work with what you have. 3M makes a primer for PE, but it is $200 a gallon. PE is just not meant to be painted. If you look closely at primers, or any exterior paint they will say not for use over polyethylene or polypropylene.

That its weathered and you have sanded it is going to help. I would not sand it finer than 80 grit to leave some "tooth" for the primer to adhere to. I would try an acrylic latex primer. It remains flexible. Actually an acrylic latex finish would be better, too. Its just hard to get those camo colors in house paint! I think the oil-based enamel and flat paint will adhere to the acrylic primer. It does not work the other way.

Understand that your project is a grand experiment and except the results with a good sense of humor. If you have good results please share your technique widely!
 
Ramrat
member (12)member
  
08/05/2020 09:24PM  
I just decided to rattle can it and call it good. Its no show piece it will he used for hunting and fishing with the boys.
 
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