Aluminum frame ports. Paint or????

[skipmac]

I have a number of aluminum (aluminium?) frame ports on the boat that the PO painted but not very well. So there are areas where the paint is flaking off.

Trying to decided what to do. I can think of three options:

1. Paint
2. Powder coat
3. Leave bare aluminum

1. I would use a 2 part, Al primer first and then paint.

2. Probably cost more but would it be tougher, last longer than a well done paint job?

3. As I understand Al, it will form a surface oxide coating and stabilize, unless the coating is damaged. Is this correct for long term or will the metal gradually corrode and pit? I would be OK with the oxidized Al look if over time it didn't get too bad.

[riggear]

Hello,
I have Bomar cast Aluminum Ports and Hatches.

I have had one of each, sandblasted and then Powder Coated, They look great. Time will tell how good they stand up of course, but so far i am very pleased.

Cost for the port was $50.00 for both sandblasting and powder coating. Sure was better than sanding/prepping them myself. I think the Hatch was about double that.

Cheers,

[skipmac]

So, any other opinions on power coating? I've got the ports prepped and ready to go so decision point is almost here.

[Stumble]

I would just leave them bare. Exposed aluminum doesn't suffer from corrosion, and long term no matter how well coated it will begin to fail.

[SVTatia]

I have aluminum ports and had to make the same decision. I tried powder coat, but mine are cast and powder coating does not work, we tried on one and it bubbled, was horrible - I had to use lots of paint stripper to remove the stuff.
If your ports are in good condition,. i.e. no pitting, etc. you can have them polished and then anodized. This is the first and the less expensive option. Mine were in poor shape (the boat was built in '67) so I sanded them down and had it professionally epoxy primed and top coated with linear polyurethane. You can hire an automobile painter, you supply the paint. It looks really nice, and I spent about $250 for all six of them. Replacement cost was about $2,000. This is the same paint that is on the boat's topside, so it should last, and if not, it can always be touched up.
Back to powder coat: if you decide on this and your ports are cast aluminum, make sure you mention this to the applicator, and also opt for the epoxy, as powder coating is not UV resistant.

[a64pilot]

I built my own RADAR mont for my little stink boat, I had it anodized first, then powder-coated. I was told that where it was welded the anodize would be black but I didn't care as it would be white powder coated. It's been about three years and s far no bubbling on the powder coat indicating corrosion under the powder coat.

[roverhi]

Hard coat anodized my aluminum hatches then painted with LPU
Paint. No problems after 10 years. Next owner switched out to plexi lighted hatches which didn't look so hot after 5 years in SoPac.