Fuel tank exterior paint

Struts and Rudders · Post by **Struts and Rudders** » Sun May 06, 2012 6:19 pm

Picking up the new alum fuel tanks tomorrow.
Would like to paint the exterior of them.
Any suggestions or ideas to make it easy or a particular product you had a positive or negative experience with?
Thanks
SRD
F36

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Sun May 06, 2012 6:28 pm

IMO I wouldn't paint them, paint on alum hides oxidation. Mine where made in 87' and still shine and no white rust....and she's been a saltwater boat the whole time.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sun May 06, 2012 6:28 pm

just get some cheap auto paint, single stage maybe. Just dont use any sanding tools that may have been used on metal before. Contamination issues will occur down the road. I would add a light coat of primer to it first, even if its just cheap spray can stuff. It will help with adheasion. Gas tank will never see day light, Paint will last forever. Im going to paint mine black to kill the glare from it if im working below.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Sun May 06, 2012 7:28 pm

why dont you ask the people making the tanks what they would recommend, they may tell you to leave them alone, powder coat before fuel ever get in them or use a specific paint...

They may be anodized so you certainly wouldn't want to scratch the surface.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sun May 06, 2012 7:43 pm

anodized is a coating, they would have to do it in clear and I would think they are not or it would come in choice of colors lust like r/c cars or fittings for enginge apps etc... I agree about asking. Mine is just raw aluminum, no different than new high end car parts coming out. you wont need any marine products here if you so choose to paint. just an honest solution. I have seperate tools for aluminum becuase they cant be in contact with metal tools, application is all the same, materials are all the same. I wouldnt pay for powder coating. Its to thin and to high heat. 350-400 for 30 minutes NOT needed. you can do a gas tank for 25$ if its raw aluminum.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Sun May 06, 2012 8:15 pm

I just replaced my tanks with aluminum tanks two years ago. The manufacturer offered to porcelain coat them which, I understand, is a standard option for aluminum tanks. I did not add the porcelain coating as I do not believe the tanks need to be painted or coated.

Just my 2c.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Sun May 06, 2012 8:53 pm

not up on all of the aluminum alloys, but I am sure it is like stainless, there should be varying grades some easier to form,mill, weld and resist corrosion, some very strong , some not so strong, which is why I would ask the mfg as to what they would reccomend.

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Sun May 06, 2012 9:40 pm

Is there any chance painting would promote corrosion, or mask leaks? If so, I wouldn't touch them. The only people who are going to see them are you and/or whoever does service on your boat, and you can be pretty sure the service guy doesn't give a crap what they look like.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sun May 06, 2012 9:47 pm

captainmaniac wrote:Is there any chance painting would promote corrosion, or mask leaks? If so, I wouldn't touch them. The only people who are going to see them are you and/or whoever does service on your boat, and you can be pretty sure the service guy doesn't give a crap what they look like.

NO none at all. just cosmetic, we all like pritty things, it will acually add life. although aluminium lives for ever

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sun May 06, 2012 9:52 pm

gettaway wrote:why dont you ask the people making the tanks what they would recommend, they may tell you to leave them alone, powder coat before fuel ever get in them or use a specific paint...

They may be anodized so you certainly wouldn't want to scratch the surface.

if your not up on aluminium and metal work, then why would you post about someting you know nothing about?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun May 06, 2012 9:59 pm

jefflaw35 wrote:
gettaway wrote:why dont you ask the people making the tanks what they would recommend, they may tell you to leave them alone, powder coat before fuel ever get in them or use a specific paint...

They may be anodized so you certainly wouldn't want to scratch the surface.
if your not up on aluminium and metal work, then why would you post about someting you know nothing about?

Becuse thats great advice ! I also recomended to contact the tank maker .

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sun May 06, 2012 10:04 pm

prowlersfish wrote:
jefflaw35 wrote:
gettaway wrote:why dont you ask the people making the tanks what they would recommend, they may tell you to leave them alone, powder coat before fuel ever get in them or use a specific paint...

They may be anodized so you certainly wouldn't want to scratch the surface.
if your not up on aluminium and metal work, then why would you post about someting you know nothing about?
Becuse thats great advice ! I also recomended to contact the tank maker .

+1 they will tell you. its just a special metal thet really needs no care for, but we all like pritty!

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun May 06, 2012 10:06 pm

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sun May 06, 2012 10:22 pm

prowlersfish wrote:XX

secret code? what is XX?

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sun May 06, 2012 10:26 pm

Struts and Rudders wrote: Would like to paint the exterior of them.
Any suggestions or ideas to make it easy or a particular product you had a positive or negative experience with?

simple question. anything you would like bud! It will look good and stay that way!

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Fuel tank exterior paint

Fuel tank exterior paint

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