Kayak paint (Not Cammo)

GWashington1732

GWashington1732

Joined
Jun 20, 2009
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I want to paint something on a kayak. It's pretty much going to be the most awesomest thing ever. I could use some help picking out a paint though. All I found in a search is people who want to cammo their kayak. I don't want that, I actually want to decorate it and make it look dope. I want something that I can brush on or draw on, not spray paint, because I'm painting a picture. I've already tried sharpies, they come off. The picture I want to draw, think airplane nose art, is about 1x1 foot. Any ideas?
 
Make sure you know what your kayak is made from ,it might take primer first.
 
It's plastic I thought I put that, but I didn't. Also it was sunk for a couple of years so I don't care all that much about it.
 
Bomber nose art decals can be bought on that auction site as well as the flying tiger shark mouth and eyes.
 
You can still draw it up and a sign company can make the decals. Be aware that there are several different types of plastics used in kayaks. Some will accept paint and some won't. And the Plasticoat paint isn't much more adherent than regular Krylon. You can spray either into the cap and brush it from there.
 
As long as it isn't one of those plastics like polyethylene that nothing really sticks to, you can use ordinary artist's acrylic paints. Or you could use oil paints if you prefer that and you're willing to wait for it to dry.

If it's a polyethylene kayak I think you'd be better off painting it on canvas and attach that to the boat. Or paint it on sheet metal if you don't like canvas.
 
If it is a plastic kayak just design something on Illustrator and have vinyl cut. Without knowing what the plastic kayak if it is poly or epoxy based and because it out gasses for a long time, most paints you can buy at a hardware store will not last long.

There are paints that might stick, however without knowledge and a lot of practice, they are not user friendly. Also expensive.
 
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Thanks guys. I may go the decal route on my new one. I might just try cheap paint on this one, just for the hell of it, it's a restoration job. I salvaged it from the bottom, it was filled with mud and it took a lot of scrubbing so that it didn't smell like pee, so I'm not too worried about ruining it, it's about as ruined as it's ever going to get.
 
14vo96e.jpg


Stock decals
 
Cougar Allen said:
As long as it isn't one of those plastics like polyethylene that nothing really sticks to, you can use ordinary artist's acrylic paints. Or you could use oil paints if you prefer that and you're willing to wait for it to dry.

If it's a polyethylene kayak I think you'd be better off painting it on canvas and attach that to the boat. Or paint it on sheet metal if you don't like canvas.
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Yep. Look for the recycle triange with the letters below it or look for the letters PE, LDPE, or HDPE stamped on it. If it's polyethylene, Coug is right. Nothing will stick to it.

If you are serious, do what BA suggests and find a place that does vehicle wraps and have it wrapped in white. Then you can paint on the vinyl wrap and peel it off when it starts to let loose.

Whatever you do, keep us posted. we like pictures.:p
 
Whatever you do wipe it with lacquer thinner. Let it flash off. You will see it. Let it rest for 10 mins or so. If you put vinyl graphics on measure 4 times and then eyeball it. Work one side at a time from the middle. I use a yellow bondo spreader. Slow and gentle. That will get the bubbles out.

If you want to paint, you will need good brushes. Play around on the viscosity of your paint mix on a similar material. Too thick you will have brush lines. Too thin, drips. Also if you use a dryer in the paint do not use to much. Take my word for this, sometimes it is better to watch paint dry. It can be fun. Also READ THE CAN!!! The technical data sheet too. Some paints need a sweet in time. Bubbles. Sometimes up to an half hour.

I have a theory about paint. It knows when you are in a rush and knows when you are angry. Never paint angry or in a rush.
 
BA_Colt said:
I have a theory about paint. It knows when you are in a rush and knows when you are angry. Never paint angry or in a rush.
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I tell the people I train that painting is a dance. I even use the Happy Gilmore "It's all in the hips. It's all in the hips..." line. :D

One of our teams things is "paint is stupid. It'll do exactly what you ask it to do and only what you ask it to do". It will run, peel, fisheye, orangepeel, dry or not dry because you told it to do so.
 
Paints do have a very hard time sticking to plastic typically, as pointed out by others. If you paint, you may need tp/want to put a clear protective layer over it, to keep the water from hitting the paint.
 
Styrofoam hard coated giraffe with West System epoxy painted with Nova color Same paint for the graphics.
 
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