| As your boat ages, the paint on the aluminum | | | | day. I use high heat engine spray paint (spray |
| around the window frames dulls and flakes away. | | | | can) that you can find in many Marine Stores or |
| Part of the pleasure of owning a boat is having it | | | | Auto parts stores. I think it has better adhesion |
| look new and clean. As the window frames | | | | properties, and the Boat frame. Since it is |
| become worn looking, it detracts from the look | | | | aluminum, does get mighty hot in the direct sun. |
| of the boat. It's very simple to redo the window | | | | There is a little secret to spray painting from a |
| frames. Here is the method I use and the results | | | | spray can. Since you can't put in all those extra |
| should last you a good five years. | | | | solvents that professional painters put in their |
| We'll begin with the makeover for painted | | | | spray containers, you can do a simple thing....Get |
| aluminum window frames that have worn from | | | | the surface your painting very warm...I mean |
| weather or waxing. Cleaner waxes actually | | | | Very warm! You can accomplish this by putting |
| remove the paint as time goes by. These frames | | | | what you are spray painting directly in the |
| appear grey with areas of some paint remaining. | | | | sun...that'll do it. Begin by giving a very light coat. It |
| **Around either side of the framing, put blue | | | | doesn't matter if you cover everything...a matter |
| masking tape (doubled or tripled for protection) so | | | | of fact, don't...just a quick light coating. You will be |
| not to scratch the window or gel coat...make it as | | | | able to see right away if you didn't clean the |
| wide as you feel comfortable. Take a drill with a | | | | surface well enough. If not get the acetone rag |
| wire brush attachment (2" hollow in the middle for | | | | and take the paint off and repeat above. But I |
| easy use) and go over the framing lightly. This will | | | | think you did a good job so we'll move on. After |
| take off any corrosion and small dimples... you can | | | | that light coat, give it a couple of minutes a |
| go over the painted part also, making everything | | | | repeat with another light coat. You will notice the |
| nice and smooth with no high points. Make sure to | | | | paint is starting to cover some, not much, but |
| replace or add to any masking tape that ripped or | | | | some. Because the Boat aluminum frame is so |
| came off. Go over the framing with a rag to take | | | | warm, the paint dries quickly! Keep repeating this |
| off dust and residue. Take another rag with a | | | | process, and before you know it, you will have a |
| touch of acetone and go over again. Wipe with a | | | | beautifully painted boat aluminum frame like right |
| clean rag and making sure it is dry take 220 grit | | | | from the factory. |
| emery papers and lightly go over the framing, | | | | I know some say to use a primer, but with that |
| looking for discrepancies that need to be lightly | | | | high heat engine paint, it must have other |
| gone over again. Finish up using the drill with the | | | | properties in it, because it lasts for many years. If |
| wire brush attachment. Use rag to clean and go | | | | your Aluminum Boat Framing has a lot of deep |
| through the same procedure as above with the | | | | pits in it, then I would use a spray primer in a |
| acetone. The boat framing should be smooth, | | | | can...one that is made to go over rust. It is thick |
| some areas may still have the paint on, and the | | | | so it fills those pits and you can lightly sand it |
| aluminum is bright and clean. You need the boat | | | | down to get off the excess. Then follow my |
| aluminum framing to be clean! | | | | spray painting method above...and remember to |
| Now put paper on and around the boat window, | | | | have it in the sun to be very warm...no sun, use |
| because we will be spray painting it. Put the paper | | | | heat lamps... Enjoy the New look of your Boat |
| far enough around to take care of any over | | | | aluminum window frames! |
| spray....and of course, do it on a calm, dry, warm | | | | |