What type of paint to use on "Bomar" hatch?

[Northeaster]

Hi Folks,

I will be sanding and repainting 30 year old Bomar hatches, and 2 Bomar opening portlights. I believe that they are aluminum (Please let me know if there is another common material). Any suggestions on paint? Would I need marine specific, or would hardware store metal / aluminum paint be OK.

Any input would be appreciated!!

[Mirari]

Aluminum can be tought to get paint to stick to. My preferred method is to sand or grit blast to bare shiny metal. Clean and etch with an aluminum cleaner, follow this with an Alodine conversion coating then prime and paint. If you go to Awlgrip's web site I believe they have a painting guide for all different types of substrates. You could probably do a quick and dirty aerosol spray paint job with any exterior finish but most likely it won't last very long.

[capttb]

It was probably Anodized originally, which is just electroplating it with Al Oxide, see attached website. You could check on a price to have it redone locally.
http://www.anodizing.org/faqs.html
Or since it is Al, might even consider buffing it and keep it waxed but leaving it unfinished.

[Schuckerman]

I believe most Bomar hatches are powder coated. I took my hatch to a local shop that specializes in powder coating aluminum pool and patio chairs. They did an excellent job. I removed the lexan prior to having the hatch powder coated. I was planning to replace the lexan anyway.
Scott

[US27inKS]

Powder coating and Anodizing are excellent suggestions. If you still want to paint, it can be done and have it last.

I painted my mast last spring with excellent results. I went to Interlux's web site and found the instructions for painting aluminum parts with Perfection 2 part epoxy.

Basically it goes like this: Strip it down to just the parts you want painted. Sandblast. Within a very short time (like 20 minutes or so) you must apply the special primer for aluminum. Then a very specific amount of time must pass (2 hours I think) before applying the 2 part epoxy. Scuff then paint again. Don't quote me on the times, just look at Yachtpaint.com.

It turned out beautiful, but it was a PITA. When the instructions say wait X hours, it means X hours not a minute more or less. You've got to keep on top of it. I must say that Perfection paint seems to be tough as nails, but nothing is going to beat a powder coat job.

[CKDK08]

Ditto on the powder coating. It is pretty tough stuff and looks great. A little bit of research should turn up someplace local that does it. Cost should not be that bad and since you probably don't want to re-do every couple years is worth it.
Make sure to ask them about how you should prep the parts before you take them to be coated.
Also you will want any threaded fastners or nuts masked before coating. They can do this as long as you let them know.

[pigslo]

Powder coating is best but aluminum will outgas and the result is pits if the coater does not know how to do it.
pigslo

[j34035]

I have my bomar portals out and I am disassembling them to send to the anodize shop. Would you guys recommend powder coat over anodize? I have not made commitments yet and can still do either. Would you color them the same color as aluminum or do them white to match the gel coat?
DD