I hope thats epoxy paint you are putting on that aluminum ship.If its house paint,oil or latex,it wont stick.If it has copper in it.For example:1 copper penny will eat thru the hull of a aluminum boat/ship in less than a year.Aluminum boats must be painted with a epoxy paint that has no copper or lead in it.You need a basecoat of alodine or zinc chromate,if you dont use either no matter what kind of paint or epoxy you put on it,it will fall off.If you ask how i know all this?Im a pro auto/marine/aircraft painter.And i own a 37 foot all aluminum striker sport fish that i will be doing a total restoration on it soon.Stripped down to bare aluminum and bodywork done on all welds and seams.Zinc chromated and painted with a epoxy aerospace paint.This paint is the same paint they used on the space shuttle.On the label it says:holds up under several hundred miles per hour.This paint is lifetime,i will never have to paint my ship again.Nothing will destroy the finish on this paint.You can drop a anchor on it and it wont chip.I painted 78 aircraft/jets and helicopters with this paint at sanford airport.Its not cheap either.$250.00 a gallon.1 gallon makes 2 with the part B.The bottom paint im useing is the same stuff the military uses on their ships.No barneys for 10 years.I got my ship from my uncle,15 years ago i gave him a price for stripping and painting it for 20k,that price didnt include the haul out or time in the boatyard.The price of paint and materials since then has tripled.Labor the same.If you want a pro to paint that ship of yours,ill do it for 130k.You can always paint it with a brush and roller for alot less,but it wont last and will damage the aluminum,it might even sink.That ship will make a nice reef somewhere.
