Painting my outdrive?

[Dante04SRT]

I have an '87 Alpha One unit that I currently have off the boat. I'd like to paint it, as it currently looks to be badly oxidized.

Is there an inexpensive, yet durable way to do this?

 

[firehog6305]

Re: Painting my outdrive?

with any paint job, the prep makes the paint job, I had a merc 140 on my old boat, which the old owners left in salt water to long, it ate the paint off, I just sanded it down really good with 220 grit sand paper, I wouldnt go stronger with the sand paper, its to hard to cover the scratches with paint, then after you sand it really good, wipe it down with acetone or lac thinner, get all the oils off, then I just used spray paint for that outdrive from west marine, and replaced the decals, which I found on ebay, it looked really good, good luck

 

[gcboat]

Re: Painting my outdrive?

I would like to add that if you sand to bare metal you should use a primer. Zinc chromate has proven to be the only choice that works. It's expensive, about $12.00 to 18.00 for a spray can, but a little goes a long way. I found that the hardest part was waiting for it to cure - the mfg. recommends a minimum of 24 hours. But it will give you a really good base for your finish coats.

 

[wire2]

Re: Painting my outdrive?

I've tried zinc chromate, find 2 part epoxy primer to be easier to work with and longer lasting.

I sanded my outdrive to bare metal with a 100 grit disc on a 5" angle grinder, wiped it with acetone, mixed the epoxy, catalyst and 20% thinner and sprayed. It gels as soon as it hits the surface, very run resistant. It covers all sanding marks and scratches very well.

Let it cure for 24 hours, light sanded with 220 and sprayed a GM silver metallic (OMC) over it.
Black would cover it just as easily, of course.

 

[turpehar]

Re: Painting my outdrive?

This may be way "overboard" but I can't resist.

Think of the highly detailed engines you see at car shows. I've done just a few of these. After a good cleaning, and all grinding/shaping completed, the base coat on bare metal is Zinc Chromate. Two good coats will act as a separator from the heat of the engine.

Please don't shoot me for saying this, but it is a common "good ole boy" mistake. Never use gasoline, or laquer thinner as a cleaner before primer or paint. These have petroleum in them,,,, think about it. Only a wax-grease-silicone remover should be used.

You could paint now or you could spray a couple of coats of epoxy/urethane 2 part primer. Wet sand until your crazy, or, satified,,, whichever comes first.

Paint with a urethane paint.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Painting my outdrive?

"Trilux"...they don't call it outdrive paint for nothing.. Cheap...?....figure close to (probably over).$50 for the primer, and top coat...and thats only 2 12oz cans of spray