Painting aluminum?

Lots of people get that confused. An aluminum oxide primer is a primer based on aluminum oxide chemistry...not a primer designed for use on aluminum surfaces.

What you need is a zinc chromate primer. Unfortunately, as with most chemicals the EPA decided that it worked too well and so now it's classified hazerdous and a bit hard to get. Google "Dupont Variprime". It's a self etching primer that works pretty well. I had my river boat done last year and this is what I settled on and had used. As far as paint, if you get the right primer on it paint shouldn't matter that much...just a good quality automotive paint should work. Mine was a bit different due to the fact that part of the paint would be below water.