I have a questiopn for you all.......

I was thinking about sanding the paint off my aluminum boat and leaving it bare, the bare aluminum looks really good.

Would there be any problems if I leave it bare?

Thanks,

Alfred Huff

It works fine.  Most Vee hull utility boats are bare on the outside.  You probably wont get the shine like it has from the factory.  Will look just like any piece of aluminum you find at the steelyard as opposed to the shiny aluminum boats.

You are talking about a lot of work.

I would have to take the paint off any way due to wanting to repaint.

My thought was that I could leave it bare and clear coat it with a durable clear coat.

Clear coating only would be cheaper than painting and cheaper is the only way I can go right now.

Thanks guys,

Alfred

You can't just clear coat bare aluminum, it will come right off.  A metal etching primer is needed first before ANYTHING will stick.

My buddy has a tracker that is bare alum w/ a decal.  He buffs it to a mirror like shine often.  Aluminum oxidizes very quickly so if it's that aluminum shine you are after, plan on LOTS of elbow grease.

LOTS!

I had a 1939 Sea Nymph 14' V-hull. It was bare aluminum and stayed half way clean, but definitely not shiny. Shouldn't cause any problems to sand it down.

I've been lurking on this site for awhile now and have gained a lot of knowledge. So thought I would share some. Sheet Alum. has an ALCAD coating put on it when it is manufactured. That is the shiney surface. This is to prevent corrosion. When it is painted this coating has to be scuffed in order for any top coat to adhere well.  I have noticed on my boat where some paint has chipped it is not scuffed. Maybe why it chipped?. So if you sand off the paint it will be a dull scuffed looking finish also it will be more apt to corrode. to get a gloss finish plan on a lot of work like LBH said.

Very close Spnrbait_

Alclad The registered trade name by the Aluminum Company of America for clad structural aluminum alloy.

Aluminum alloy corrodes easily, but pure aluminum does not. Alclad is made of sheets of high-strength aluminum alloy sandwiched between thin coatings of pure aluminum.

Alclad sheets resist corrosion as long as the cladding is not scratched through or worn off.

If left unpainted the surface will oxidize causing discoloration, therefore the need for constant polishing eventually wearing off the clad surface.

Thanks for the help guys, I'll let you know what I plan to do.

Alfred