Fairing Aluminum Boats

OPTIONS FOR FAIRING ALUMINUM BOATS

Aluminum boats require painting only below the waterline for anti-fouling purposes. Their interiors are normally unpainted unless there is an esthetic reason, while exterior finishing can range from Bare Aluminum to a smooth high gloss painted surface.

Aluminum does not need to be painted to prevent corrosion, therefore builders can launch their boat before esthetically finishing the exterior surface. The exterior surface can be faired and painted years after the boat has been put into service.

Bezier Curve Chine Design produces exceptional fair surfaces and provides an excellent starting point for the finishing process. Starting with work boats and moving towards pleasure boats we will look at the options of finishing an aluminum hull from a bare aluminum finish (mostly seen on work and commercial craft) to a pristine smooth high gloss painted surface (mostly seen on pleasure craft).

FAIRING WORK & COMMERCIAL BOAT HULLS

Aluminum is an excellent material to build a work boat when it comes to finishing the hulls exterior. The shell plating weld seams and other imperfections of work boats are not ground smooth due to the purpose of the vessel. With no grinding of the shell plating seams it follows that fairing compounds are not needed or used.

To improve the esthetics of commercial boats, grind and smooth any imperfections on the hulls exterior surface. This would include any imperfections due to, but not limited to, interior welding and shell plating seams. Note: To achieve the intent of the Bezier curve design and construction method finish the hull to at least this stage.

To further improve the esthetics of commercial boats use fairing compounds to remove major and minor surface scratches, gouges, and dents before painting.

FAIRING PLEASURE BOAT HULLS

Bezier Curve Chine Design produces exceptional fair surfaces and provides an excellent starting point for finishing a true round aluminum pleasure boat.

To bring an aluminum hull surface to a smooth glossy finish it is necessary to use fairing compounds to a greater degree then stage #3. In this next stage not only will we remove scratches and dents, but depressions on the surface of the hull before painting.

While aluminum marine paint and fairing systems are engineered to work together below the waterline. Itis best not to introduce a fairing compound between the hull and its barrier coatings below the waterline. Consider not using fairing compounds below the waterline, since this portion of the hull will not be seen the majority of the time anyway. Use fairing compounds below the waterline only when there is an urgent esthetic need to do so.

The difference between a smooth glossy finish and a Fiberglass Grade Finish is the amount of work and time you are willing to put into the Fairing Process before painting.

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