How to Paint a Fiberglass Canoe
Gather your supplies from the "Things You'll Need" section., Establish what's needed to be done on your canoe., Fix the canoe if it's damaged or lightly cracked., See if there are minor scratches., Sand it with the 80 grits., Wash it with the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Gather your supplies from the "Things You'll Need" section.
If your canoe is already in good shape, but just needs a sanding/painting job, skip this step. , Apply fiberglass gelcoat, let it dry until the product recommends and then sand the gelcoat to obtain a smooth surface with a 60-80 grit sanding sponge or by hand with normal sanding sheet. , If these aren't really deep, don't bother filling those, as the paint will cover it up beautifully. , Do this gently, carefully and just enough to remove the old surface paint completely. , Wash it up with the hose gently, and use the cheesecloth to wipe off all the dust on the canoe. , Prepare a nice working space inside your garage or outside (far from trees or dust, and get this done before 11 am to let it dry all day before the night).
Then, cover up your canoe border with the painting tape, be really precise. , They say maximum 10% thinner, but 4-5% is highly recommended. , You will obtain a fairly liquid type of paint because of the thinner.
And, when you apply the paint, it will cause a lot of small bubbles.
Don't panic, though! Just keep rolling on the bubbles until they vanish and continue on the next area of the canoe. ,, Be gentle. ,, -
Step 2: Establish what's needed to be done on your canoe.
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Step 3: Fix the canoe if it's damaged or lightly cracked.
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Step 4: See if there are minor scratches.
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Step 5: Sand it with the 80 grits.
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Step 6: Wash it with the cheesecloth.
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Step 7: Prepare the fiberglass canoe.
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Step 8: Blend your paint thinner with the marine paint.
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Step 9: Paint it!
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Step 10: Wait 24 hours
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Step 11: and the first coat will be completed.
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Step 12: Lightly sand it again with a 320-400 grit sanding sponge.
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Step 13: Wash it up again with the hose
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Step 14: and use another cheesecloth for the dust.
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Step 15: Repeat the painting process and wait 24-36 hours for the last coat before using it!
Detailed Guide
If your canoe is already in good shape, but just needs a sanding/painting job, skip this step. , Apply fiberglass gelcoat, let it dry until the product recommends and then sand the gelcoat to obtain a smooth surface with a 60-80 grit sanding sponge or by hand with normal sanding sheet. , If these aren't really deep, don't bother filling those, as the paint will cover it up beautifully. , Do this gently, carefully and just enough to remove the old surface paint completely. , Wash it up with the hose gently, and use the cheesecloth to wipe off all the dust on the canoe. , Prepare a nice working space inside your garage or outside (far from trees or dust, and get this done before 11 am to let it dry all day before the night).
Then, cover up your canoe border with the painting tape, be really precise. , They say maximum 10% thinner, but 4-5% is highly recommended. , You will obtain a fairly liquid type of paint because of the thinner.
And, when you apply the paint, it will cause a lot of small bubbles.
Don't panic, though! Just keep rolling on the bubbles until they vanish and continue on the next area of the canoe. ,, Be gentle. ,,
About the Author
Frances Parker
Enthusiastic about teaching hobbies techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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