I recently acquired an old, beat up 14' K-Craft aluminum semi-V that I intend to somewhat repair/restore. I am not new to boats, boating, or even aluminum boats for that matter, just new to this restoration game. I live in Annapolis, MD and own an 18' walkaround with a 125hp Merc on the back that I run all over the bay. I bought the little k-craft for a few reasons: cost and ease of running, skinny water perchin', and mostly... duck hunting. I intend to do a few things, but this is where my questions begin...
First. I am going to paint the entire thing shadow grass camo. I had another older Jon a while back, that I primed with a self-etching spray primer, and the spray painted blue and it held up fairly well for the time I had that boat. Is it safe to assume this method will work again, obvioulsy using camo colors and shadow grass stencils...
Second. I would like to either remove or "cover" the factory installed bench seats and install a 6' rod/gun box along the port side of the boat. I would love to build this out of aluminum, but I am not looking to spend that much, nor do I own very many metalworking tools. I am wondering what the best way to do this would be, with some type of plywood I assume, but what is the best method to seal the wood from rotting quickly. I have saw many of you use spar varnish (see questions below).
Third. I do not plan to use any carpet in the boat, so i will be spraying camo on the plywood also. Will the varnish/sealant have any effect on the primer and paint holding up? I would like to do this once, and not do it again for a good while.
I live on the Chesapeake Bay, so the boat will be used 90% of the time in brackish water, although will sometimes make trips to the 3 rivers in Pittsburgh (parents live there) or the Potomac river for catfish. Any help would be much appreciated! First time I have ever bought a boat in non "usable" condition. Also, guess I should mention, I am a tech ed (wood shop/industrial arts depending on where you live/when you graduated HS) teacher, so I am very mechanically inclined and do not see the task being all that hard, just need some direction and questions answered from the pros!
Thanks, Mike
ps. I posted a picture of the boat for your viewing please... name used to be "bass-hunter"
First. I am going to paint the entire thing shadow grass camo. I had another older Jon a while back, that I primed with a self-etching spray primer, and the spray painted blue and it held up fairly well for the time I had that boat. Is it safe to assume this method will work again, obvioulsy using camo colors and shadow grass stencils...
Second. I would like to either remove or "cover" the factory installed bench seats and install a 6' rod/gun box along the port side of the boat. I would love to build this out of aluminum, but I am not looking to spend that much, nor do I own very many metalworking tools. I am wondering what the best way to do this would be, with some type of plywood I assume, but what is the best method to seal the wood from rotting quickly. I have saw many of you use spar varnish (see questions below).
Third. I do not plan to use any carpet in the boat, so i will be spraying camo on the plywood also. Will the varnish/sealant have any effect on the primer and paint holding up? I would like to do this once, and not do it again for a good while.
I live on the Chesapeake Bay, so the boat will be used 90% of the time in brackish water, although will sometimes make trips to the 3 rivers in Pittsburgh (parents live there) or the Potomac river for catfish. Any help would be much appreciated! First time I have ever bought a boat in non "usable" condition. Also, guess I should mention, I am a tech ed (wood shop/industrial arts depending on where you live/when you graduated HS) teacher, so I am very mechanically inclined and do not see the task being all that hard, just need some direction and questions answered from the pros!
Thanks, Mike
ps. I posted a picture of the boat for your viewing please... name used to be "bass-hunter"