RML, if you're doing the aluminum bracket, think about having someone sand blast it....its fast and comes out ready for priming and etching....which you need to do in about the first hour of exposing fresh aluminum to air as it will begin to self oxidize right away. You will not see it, but it will make a difference in the paint sticking long term or not.
you should break up the job into 2 sections, the portion on top of the bracket well and the portion below, the sides and the bottom. After blasting or sanding (good luck), etch it with Interlux's Vinyllux etch/primer.....then follow up with several coats of Interprotect 2000e and then Trilux 33 at and below the waterline as its made specifically for metal. Do the same above the waterline, but use Perfection Paint above the waterline, not Trilux33. Give yourself a couple of inches Trilux above the actual line as this area will be wet most of the time even though it doesn't sit that low.
I did the exact job on my bracket last year...came out great....and the guys at Interlux are very helpful with their product use/specification.
