"Garrison Hilliard" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 22:31:49 -0400, in rec.boats.paddle you wrote:

Forgive my lapses please, the kayak I'm considering painting is
constructed
of polyethylene plastic. I believe I'm going to visit the local paint
shop
and inquire there.
TIA if any useful suggestions are offered.

Plastic scale model paint... it's made for the job.

Not really. Plastic scale models are made of straight styrene or
Polystyrene. The paint relies on solvents that actually penetrate the
surface of the plastic in order to adhere to the model. The PE used in the
manufacture of plastic kayaks is not penetrated by such solvents so the
adhesion is essentially dependant upon surface tension. The problem is that
the plastic is constantly off gassing its own distillates that break that
bond and eventually, with flex and shock from impact, the paint will flake
off.