How to Paint a Kayak?

[NW_Arkansas22]

Hey guys, looking for some advice on painting my kayak.

It's a bright blue, plastic sit-in kayak.

Is there any prep work involved or can I just start painting? Excluding color, what type of paint would you recommend?

 

[Madgrad02]

As in any painting job, prepworks is the key. Tape off or remove everything you don't want painted, and then you want to scour the surface with a abrasive pad so the paint will adhere better. Clean surface with acetone or alcohol based cleaner. Being that you mentioned it was bright blue, I would prime it first in a solid flat color, and then I've had good luck with the Rust-Oleum series matte camo paints. Matte clear coat to finish. Many videos on the interweb doing just that same thing. A little search will get you far

 

[BrianO]

Ive always like rustoleum better as well but thw Krylon "Fusion" sticks really well to plastic. Like MadGrad02 said paint is only as good as the prep.

 

[arrow30]

I just painted mine, and I did no prep. other than washing with dawn dishsoap to get it clean. was thinking of giving it a good rough sanding, and the paint may have stuck better, but it scratches off pretty easy. but for the most part its camoed . might redo it when I get more time to mess with it.

 

[Wasp]

Looks good.

 

[Jtaylor]

No matter what you do the paint is going to rub off in spots. Scuff the surface with a scotch brite or sandpaper until the sheen is knocked off the kayak, rub down the whole surface with alcohol or some other no residue solvent (plastic prep) and if you want use a plastic (polyethylene) primer or adhesion promoter and hit it with a spray paint used for plastics. You can buy camo stencils or just use leaves and branches you can pick up anywhere. Realize you'll be touching it up just about every time you run into a log, rock, etc. if you want to keep it looking like you just painted it.

 

[will4554]

No matter what you do the paint is going to rub off in spots. Scuff the surface with a scotch brite or sandpaper until the sheen is knocked off the kayak, rub down the whole surface with alcohol or some other no residue solvent (plastic prep) and if you want use a plastic (polyethylene) primer or adhesion promoter and hit it with a spray paint used for plastics. You can buy camo stencils or just use leaves and branches you can pick up anywhere. Realize you'll be touching it up just about every time you run into a log, rock, etc. if you want to keep it looking like you just painted it.

Agree. projects
like this are meant to be functional, not pretty. The less prep the better IMO. You'll be touching it up if scratches bother you anyways.

 

[Gator]

Nothing will stick to a yak. Just plan to retouch often

 

[rambotogo]

Nothing will stick to a yak. Just plan to retouch often

yes, I got one of the covers they make for duck hunters ,camo, fit like a glove and has pockets to put stuff in . Good luck

 

[Gator]

yes, I got one of the covers they make for duck hunters ,camo, fit like a glove and has pockets to put stuff in . Good luck

Got a link? Not sure I've seen one of those. Mine is already decent colors but has one stripe of bright green so I just throw a camo sheet over it but your cover sounds much nicer.

 

[Nutterbuster]

Paint will not stick to polyethylene. I'd ask myself how badly it needs to be camo and do I plan to resell before I rattle canned it. If it's just for deer hunting in especially wouldn't bother. If it was for ducks, I'd sell it, buy something neutral colored, and then make a cover for it.

 

[arrow30]

I knew the paint wouldn't stick to plastic worth a damn, but I just had to camo for the cool factor.... you know what I mean.

 

[Vtbow]

Scotch Brite pad, good wash to decrease. Krylon fusion. Plan to repaint every year, and have 1/4 resale value.

 

[arrow30]

mine was cheap, il burn it before I sell it.

 

[rambotogo]