paint for outboard

[cddetelich]

I bought a 1990 Johnson 175. Even tilted all the way up a little bit of the forward part of the lower unit is still in the water, so I plan on painting this in the spring with the anti-fouling paint for outboards (white). There is some rust up near the power tilt mechanism and locking brace. Should I use this paint there also, or should I get just "outboard" paint to match, or should I get some Rustoleum. Exact paint match is not a concern-I primarily want to protect the metal.

 

[DJ]

Re: paint for outboard

You can use either. For best protection, prime any aluminum surfaces with zinc chromate primer.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: paint for outboard

if you paint an outboard, wich is made of aluminum, with antifouling paint, wich is usually made with copper, your motor will turn to dust. ive seen it happen first hand. i have 2 1988 yamaha 150hp twins right now with paint on the lower unit just for this reason, and the whole mid-section and lower pan are bubbling up as if they were rusting. its awfull.<br /><br />its called electrolisis. look it up. its not good

 

[cddetelich]

Re: paint for outboard

Of course I would use the spray can of anti-fouling paint made for aluminum lower units, not anti-fouling paint made for boat bottoms. Why don't you try stripping all of the paint off of your lower units and repainting them?

 

[deeep water]

Re: paint for outboard

good luck getting the paint to stick ,,,my skeg lost all it paint years ago and nothing seams to stick down there ,,i dont know why ,, i have a small merc 4.5 that you cant get the paint off of it was baught new back in 85 and has deen run up and down the salt marshes in DE,,maybe the metal is just black lol