Painted the wife's kayak....Not good

[Snowwalker]

Well I started the job of painting the wife's kayak yesterday and even used a coat of primer so the camo paint job would stick better.

I went in and bought a small can of Primer paint and had the colour mix. I explained to the guy at the store that I was painting a "PLASTIC" kayak, not drywall or metal.

Now the primer paint went on like a dream, so I left it to dry and cure. Dried nice and smooth, but I looked at it this morning and it is coming off like a snake shedding it's skin.
If I can't get the primer to stick what the heck can I do?

[C.A. in TO]

Was the canoe waxed previously? That would have to be stripped for anything to stick properly

[jaycee]

I have painted plastic lawn furniture and have used Krylon paint with good success.
I did not use a primer , just used my pressure washer on the furniture to strip of the years of weathered grime , the paint is still on after about 8 years.
Krylon is one of the very few paints that sticks to "plastic".

[skeeter1]

X2 on the krylon, give it a thorough sanding first as well.

[Snowwalker]

I have painted plastic lawn furniture and have used Krylon paint with good success.
I did not use a primer , just used my pressure washer on the furniture to strip of the years of weathered grime , the paint is still on after about 8 years.
Krylon is one of the very few paints that sticks to "plastic".

Was the canoe waxed previously? That would have to be stripped for anything to stick properly

X2 on the krylon, give it a thorough sanding first as well.

OK I washed the surface and cleaned it before painting so figured it would have removed wax/coatings. When the paint went on it stuck hard and fast, so the peeling was a surprise. I got Krylon Sprays to do the camo pattern, so maybe I'll just go get a few cans in the right colour for a base, and restart it. It's going to rain here on and off till Wednesday. Not much time to redo it before Thursday Morning.
It's almost like something came out of the plastic and lifted the paint. Maybe the washing did not get all of the coating off.
Next step...Pressure wash the paint off.
If you think I am not happy..you should see the wife.

The biggest problem is that she bought a "BRIGHT" red kayak for hunting...

[oaknut]

After pressure washing id givevit a good rub with acetone to be sure you are rid of any other non adhereables

[Snowwalker]

After pressure washing id givevit a good rub with acetone to be sure you are rid of any other non adhereables

The more I think about it the worse feeling I have about this project...

[ratherbe]

acetone will melt some plastics.............a good scrubbing to remove the lose paint and a light sanding with a 1000 wet sand paper and a bucket of water to clean and keep the sand paper wet should prepare the surface for paint..........

[Trevor]

Wash the kayak with dish soap. The dish soap will cut through any wax on the plastic then scrub the kayak with a green scotch bright pad for good adhesion.

[Snowwalker]

Wash the kayak with dish soap. The dish soap will cut through any wax on the plastic then scrub the kayak with a green scotch bright pad for good adhesion.

Did the dish soap wash before painting...The paint went on and dried nice. last night a little scrapped off when I turned it over. I wanted the top facing down. This morning it was starting to crack. hit it with that power washer tonight and the paint came off like a sausage skin. I am going to remove the rest of the paint tomorrow, and let it dry in the sun. I will try a Krylon paint can and see if it sticks.

I only have four cans in four colours to work with hope it covers it.