Alrighty then...well i've gone every where looking for etching primer and no one seems to know what i'm talking about.  Is it called something else more technical that they might know of?  I found the interlux paint but no etching primer...i'm lost

Your auto paint store should have self ectching primer, not sure you will want to pay the price though.  Be ready for some sticker shock when they price it to you.

Not sure what your wanting to do but in most cases epoxy primer works better.  I prefer to shot a good coat of epoxy and then go right back over it with a coat of high build urathane before it dries.

Are you painting a bare aluminum boat or is there paint on it?  Also, would ordering it off the net be a problem... easier to find.

no, ordering off of the internet is not a problem at all...but i can't find it on the internet. Yes it is a bare aluminum boat.

Here ya go:

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/search.do?freeText=Viny.Lux%20Metal%20Wash&page=GRID&history=

You can buy all interlux products here.  It's in my neighborhood, if you have a problem finding somthing, let me know.