Painting Crossbars

Has anyone painted their crossbars? Mine are faded down to the aluminum. Anyone with expereince doing this, please feel free to throw your two cents below! Thanks.

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Mims, FL

Contrary to many, I have.
I used Rust-o-leum(can't spell) enamel in flat black for metal. Mixed in a little Penetrol for better adhesion. Very thin coat with a quality brush. Been over two years and it still hanging on.
Yep, dragging other metallic objects across it will scrape it off but, what the he!!, I can touch up the entire frame and mast in about ummm..10 minutes.
It looks a million times better. Super easy to maintain.

Try an small area on the underside of the frame. Let it dry thoroughly. Don't like it, MEK, paint thinner, or acetone will remove. But you won't.

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Southeast of Disorder
'84 H16 Blue Hawaiian

Thanks for that! What about prep? Did you sand it first?

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Mims, FL

Just cleaned the areas, removed all traces of wax via high evap solvent. Though I'm sure someone could provide some pointers for even better adhesion.
I'll try to post a pic or two.

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Southeast of Disorder
'84 H16 Blue Hawaiian

Would definitely like to see pics, Havana! I'm not a fan of the raw aluminum look on older boats. The black finish looks so much cleaner.

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-Roland
Sailing vintage Hobie Cats in West Africa.

My thoughts exactly. "silver" or raw aluminum may look great on a restored, retro cat with matching circa sails and graphics.
Otherwise, the silver grinning through in different areas looks like shizz on my boat. The boat looks new and sharper with stark black and white contrast.

Been too dark when I arrive home from work. Try to get a few pics Wed.

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Southeast of Disorder
'84 H16 Blue Hawaiian

Depending on how far out you want to go, you could have the cross bars (or any other metal parts) powder coated. With powder coating there is a variety of colors and it's very very durable. You would have to take the boat to pieces of course, but the result is actually very cool looking, and powder coating aluminum parts is not very expensive (at least not around here). Maybe worth looking at?

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2011 H16... Have a Hobie Day!
1983 H14 Turbo...

Hobie Cat tried powder coating back in the early '90s. Looks cool for a while - until it chips.

Then it looks like crap.

Also, the powder coated boats were the heaviest boats in their class. Racers avoided them like the plague.

I decided to use Black Appliance Epoxy spray paint. I took the tiller totally apart and painted that too. It turned out amazing. Hoping longevity is good.

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Mims, FL

Maximus;

Mims, FL!!! Not to change the subject but what's your sail number. I've been sailing at the Indian River and other areas around there for 25+ years. Moved from Mims further inland west of Geneva.

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Paul

2013 Tandem Island

You could also use carbon fiber vinyl, it comes in a variety of colors and all you have to do is heat it up and stick it on it is waterproof and not as prone to scratching allthough it maybe cheaper to paint but i did this to my boat and it is easier to apply and i like the carbon fiber look way more.

Planning on taking the tramp off in next few days to clean and relace... Would be time to do some crossbar painting and some great ideas posted here. But, a picture (when available) is worth a thousand words.

Intrepid,
Now thats a unique look, where did you find the paint? You said need to heat it up... The paint, crossbars, or both? Please tell me you have some pics cause curious eyes want to see.

Maximus,
same Q to you for paint avail. And pics as your approach seems good too.

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'95 H16 sail #101148
'89 H18 SX/ sail #1053 w/ Yellow hulls

I used Rustoleum "high heat" black spray paint on my rudder castings and tiller arms, the kind of paint you see at Home Depot to refinish gas grills. They look terrific! It's more of a "flat" finish which is the "stock" look I was going for.

For my faded, hairy old EPO rudders, last summer I used Rustoleum's high gloss black rattle can epoxy appliance enamel and the rudders still looked brand new five months later when I removed them for the winter. Jeremy and his "gel coat disiples" will probably scoff at the notion but to each his own; I'd rather be sailing than tinkerin'. The job took me maybe an hour to complete and I can touch up when needed in about 10 minutes.

no sorry hawk if i was mis understood but you buy carbon fiber vinyl and it comes in large rolls it can be kinda expensive but you take the vinyl and use a hair blower to heat up the vinyl and that makes it stick and you just apply it to the crossbars and use a credit card to push out the air bubbles. there is no painting required although for best adhesion a primer is recomended.

Here's a picture of the tiller. I became a believer in the epoxy spray paint after I painted my entire boat with it(white). That was almost two years ago and after lots of use, the paint job looks like it was done yesterday. NSBPaul, my sail number is 13041. At least it used to be until I ripped the sail and the repair guy had to cut out half the numbers! Now I'm just 41. I sail in the Indian river all the time but have only seen another Hobie once. I have sailed off of NSB a few times.

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Mims, FL