Painting a fiberglass canoe

One of the most popular email questions we get, here at Mohawk Canoes, is "How do I refinish my old fiberglass canoe?" Once it's been faded for a few years, the chances of bringing it back are slim. You can take it to a shop and have them spray it or you can paint your canoe with a one-part polyurethane marine paint that is available at most marine stores.

Proper preparation is important and can be done to whatever extent you desire, which means you can try to patch all you can, or just make it one even color and not worry about minor imperfections. Read the steps below, but be sure to read any directions that come with the paint you use.

Materials List

• 1 quart One-Part Polyurethane Marine Paint
• 1pint thinner recommended by paint mfg.
• Tack cloth 
• Paint brush
• 4" foam roller
• 120 grit sand paper
• Masking tape

Step 1: This is filling any deep scratches or gouges, using a gelcoat repair kit, JB Weld or any product available at the marine store used for this purpose. Once all are filled and patched, sand them smooth.

Step 2:Remove any old stickers or decals with a heat gun. Then remove any adhesive with acetone or adhesive remover.

Step 3: If there are any traces of wax, a wax remover must be used. If the canoe is many years old and has not been waxed in years, you can go to step 4.

Step 4: Sand all exterior surfaces to be painted  with 120 grit sandpaper, using masking tape, tape off  the end caps and gunwales.

Step 5: For  detailed instructions on the actual painting process refer to the instructions on the can of paint that you've purchased.  

But the basics are: use a tack cloth to remove the dust, wipe down the area to be painted with the brushing thinner, this will provide the final cleaning and degreasing of the area to be painted. To allow for a more even flow, but risking the possibility of needing more coats, you can thin the paint by 10%  if you choose. Now, using a  4" roller, roll the paint on to a 2 ft. by 2 ft. area. Then, with a quality brush, smooth out the area you just rolled with just the tip of the brush, this is referred to as "tipping". Repeat this process until the canoe is done. Carefully use the brush to apply the paint to the areas you can't reach with the roller like around the gunwale and endcaps. 

Step 6: After 24 hrs have passed re-sand the canoe with 120 grit paper, wipe it down with a tack cloth, wipe it  again with the thinner and then apply a second coat.

Repairing a fiberglass canoe

***CAUTION***

ALWAYS WEAR RUBBER GLOVES & EYE PROTECTION
USE CAUTION AND BEWARE OF CHILDREN

**WARNING**

After hardener has been added to gel coat or resin, any material left in container can get very hot as it sets up (becomes hard). The container must be placed in an area where it cannot cause a fire.

At the bottom of this page is a conversion chart to help in mixing resin and gel coats

REPAIRING THE INSIDE OF THE CANOE (ALWAYS DO 1ST)

1)  With coarse sandpaper, sand area over and around the break at least 4" larger than the break area on the inside of the canoe. Now clean the area with a cleaning solvent or soap and water. Allow time to dry thoroughly.

2)  Tape over the break on the outside of the canoe to keep resin from running thru the break.

3)  Cut one piece of 3/4 oz. mat (non-woven fiberglass material) 2" larger than the shape of the broken area.

NOTE: USE SHEARS TO CUT FIBERGLASS MATERIAL

4)  Cut woven material 1/2" smaller than the piece of 3/4oz mat cut in step 3.

5)  Tear a piece of 3/4oz mat 2" - 3" larger than first piece of 3/4 oz mat. DO NOT CUT THIS PIECE OF MAT WITH SHEARS, YOU WANT THE TORN EDGES TO MATCH THE INTERIOR OF THE CANOE.

6)  If more than one place needs repairing, prepare and cut material for all breaks.

7)  Pour resin into paper cup or appropriate container and add hardener, following the instructions on the chart below, mix thoroughly.

8)  Coat areas to be repaired with resin.

9)  Place first piece of 3/4" oz mat over the break. Using brush and resin thoroughly saturate mat.

10)  Lay woven roving over saturated mat and again, using the brush, saturate the woven roving with resin.

11)  Lay the piece of 3/4 oz. mat with the torn edges over the woven roving  and continue, in the same way, to saturate with resin.

12)  The inside patch is now complete. The resin will "set up" (harden) quicker if patch is exposed to sunlight - But, DO NOT REPAIR THE CANOE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT.

2)  Cut narrow strips of 3/4" mat the same width  or slightly wider than the groove.

3)  Mix a small amount of resin and paint in the groove. Then lay in the strips of 3/4oz mat. Saturate each layer and place them so that they are level with the surface of the canoe.

1)  Sand area with fine (600 grit) sandpaper 2 to 3 inches beyond patch area.

2)  Cut a piece of PEEL PLY about 3" larger than area to be gel coated.

3)  Mix gel coat with hardener and brush a thick coat over the break area. Apply *PEEL PLY over wet gel coat and smooth down. Using a brush apply gelcoat to the *PEEL PLY.

4)  When the gel coat is set up peel off the *PEEL PLY.

5)  Sand gel coat area with fine sandpaper. Be careful not to sand thru gel coat.

6)  Polish with rubbing compound and wax.

*PEEL PLY IS A RELEASE FABRIC SOLD AT MOST MARINE STORES TO HELP OBTAIN A SMOOTH FINISH TO HAND LAID MATERIALS.

IT IS A NYLON FABRIC TREATED WITH A RELEASE AGENT. WHEN USED, IT WILL PROVIDE A SMOOTH TEXTURED SURFACE READY FOR BONDING OR FINISHING.

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