I got a 16 ft aluminum v-hull boat that I want to repaint.  My question issince I have a lot of area to cover, would applying paint with a roller a good choice or not and why?

What other methods would you recommend?  Thanks!

I used a HVLP air sprayer.  Worked great.  I picked it up at Harbor Freight Tools for 15 bucks:)

I was wondering

It's currently -8 degrees with a killer wind chill and it's not going to get warm any time soon.  I want to start sanding this 16 footer down, but was unsure if it will be wise to let the boat sit around with bare aluminum in this cold dry weather.  I don't think I'll get around to painting any time soon, because recommendations for painting is around 60 degrees or sowell that's what I picked up from somewhere.  Reason I want to get an early jump start is because I'd like to get this baby out on the water when the ice is out for early Walleye fishing.

Is it wise to start sanding this boat down in the conditions I'm faced with or should I wait till it gets warmer?

Oh BTWI have a spray gun like the one posted there.  I just need to buy some primer and paint and dump it into the canister provided with the gun correct?  Can I adjust the amount of pressure the gun will spray as well?  What kind of blue paint did you get there and how much did it cost you, because I'm planning to go with that color as well. Thanks!

thats the weather around here too its windy as ever and very cold here in Minnesota i wanna start on my boat to get it ready for paint too its a 14ft semi v

I think it'd be ok to sand it down now and paint later.  I'd do a quick light sand just before I painted to get off anything that may have gotten on it(bird poop, bugs, water stains, etc.).  They sell liners for the spray gun canisters, it's just a plastic bag, it makes cleanup a snap.  The gun should say what psi it should be ran at.  I used mine at 70 psi.  The gun also has a knob for paint volume, I opened mine up almost all the way to get it to spray right.  I used Sherwin Williams oil based exterior enamel, the color is rainstorm blue.  Bought 2 quarts at $15 each.  They were enough for two coats and still had a little left over.

By the way, I'm not sure how or if this paint will hold up, so just cause I used it doesn't mean it works:).  After a day, the paint doesn't seem very hard.  Hopefully it hardens up more.

what was the sand paper grit you were using and was your boat originally painted before you repainted it?

The boat had its original green paint.  Was in decent shape, just very faded.  I sanded it with 200 grit sandpaper before I painted.  In between coats I used a fine steel wool pad.  I don't hardly ever paint, so what I did may or may not be the "right" way to do it.  There's more than one way to skin a cat:).  The boat also had the factory stickers on the side, which I removed with a wire wheel attached to my drill.

Okay, so I got started like I said I would and so far it's going okay.  I had to quit fairly early, because it's just too darn cold right now.  Hopefully I'll get a heater up in the garage soon, but a little work here and there is better than none.  

So, I went and got a sanding sponge (medium) that was recommended by a Sherwin Williams salesman.  I explained what I was up to and he gave me some helpful advices.  I got back to the house and started sanding the front end down.  I noticed that the layer of paint on the boat is very thin; in fact I don't think the previous owner put any kind of primer on it.  Well, although the paint seems thin, I only buffed it down so the glossy paint looked like a really faded finish.  The paint is not completely off.

Is that okay or do I really have to sand down to the aluminum?

The best way is to strip it down to bare metal.  I didn't have the patience for that.  I think as long as you sand it down and make sure there isn't any loose or peeling paint it'll be ok to paint over.  BTW, the paint is curing well.  After 24 hours I could scratch it with my fingernail.  Today, 2 days later I can't scratch it, without any tools anyway:)

I'm going to keep on sanding, but keep me posted as to how yours is coming along.