Is this PAINT or GLUE on the bottom interior?

[texasrig]

Just bought this 1975 LoweLine aluminum 14 footer. It's in great shape with no leaks, but it has a greenish-blue color covering the interior bottom which ends cleanly along the rivots. Why would someone paint just the bottom and leave the entire rest of the boat natural aluminum? I suspect there might have been a carpet on the bottom and the greenish-blue is either the color of the glue or the color of the former carpet faded through and stained it.

What do you think?

https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/alum1.jpg/

https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/826/alum2.jpg/

https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/805/alum3.jpg/

 

[bigwave]

It looks like paint to me.

 

[Vermonster]

Looks like paint to me too. My guess would be it's just to cut down on glare from the sun.

 

[texasrig]

Looks like paint to me too. My guess would be it's just to cut down on glare from the sun.

Hadn't thought of that. Seems likely. Thanks.

 

[rickybobbybend]

I have also seen tins painted like that with a little grit mixed in to reduce the slip-and-fall-or-get-wet problem.

 

[texasrig]

What's the best way to get rid of this paint? I've heard stripper/remover is risky because it can dissolve the sealant in the rivets. I don't want to find myself in a money pit and create more problems. But a restoration to natural aluminum on the bottom interior would be nice. Any suggestions?

 

[JMichael]

Has someone done some repairs on the boat and used some sealant around the rivets? I'd put aircraft stripper on it and then hit it with the pressure washer.

 

[texasrig]

Has someone done some repairs on the boat and used some sealant around the rivets? I'd put aircraft stripper on it and then hit it with the pressure washer.

It doesn't look like there's any sealant around rivets. Or if there is I can't tell.

Aircraft stripper is potent stuff. You think regular old stripper at Home Depot would suffice?

 

[JMichael]

Results vary depending on what you're working with. Neither one is gonna hurt the aluminum so unless there's a big difference in price, I'd use the one that has the best shot at getting it all off. It does look like a pretty thin coat of paint so if there is a big difference in price, it might be worth trying the cheaper.