Barnacle Buildup Residue

[fishin98]

While surfing the local Craigslist today. I came across a 1999 Mercury 15hp longshaft Manual start 2stroke...rebuilt carb and new water pump...$400, with 6 gal tank.
I figured since I'm looking for a motor for my PROJECT Alumacraft, why not take a look. Got over to the sellers place, it was sitting on the mud floor of his shed. He mounted it on a barrel, hooked up the fuel line, pumped it up,on the 2nd pull it was purring like a kitten, ran it FNR all was good,water was spewing out the PEE hole like a fire hydrant, had normal wear and tear scratches, and it was dirty. Checked oil in gear case, all was good(no Milk) I offered him $300 and he took it. Now here is the issue..It was mounted on a sailboat, with the motor leg in the water for a long time, must have had a lot of Barnacles built up on lower leg and prop, as someone spent a lot of time scraping them off. The question is...how in the heck do I get the rest of the CRUD off..is there something I can spray on the lower leg and prop to clean them off......looking for ideas...Thanks

 

[Frank Acampora]

Try CLR?

 

[fishin98]

Power washed the motor today with degreaser/cleaner. What's the next step.. Anyone think I can save the prop..thought's

 

[Frank Acampora]

sand, zinc chromate primer then mercury black. Prop can be saved

 

[fishin98]

sand, zinc chromate primer then mercury black. Prop can be saved

10-4....I'm thinking soaking the prop in a bucket with a 50/50 mix of CLR

 

[robert graham]

10-4....I'm thinking soaking the prop in a bucket with a 50/50 mix of CLR

An electric drill with a wire brush on it will work great on the prop and foot....brush it right down to the bare aluminum before priming and painting....you don't really have to paint the prop since the paint is going to wear off anyway....especially if you cross any sand bars.....

 

[JoLin]

Mary Kate On & Off and a scotchbrite pad. Wear chemical resistant gloves and don't breathe the fumes. It'll take the residual barnacle shell off with very little effort.

 

[gm280]

I can easily see that coming out like new again. Start with sand paper and go to the bare metal. Then a light coating of Zinc Chromate primer, then a good quality sandable primer and sand lightly and shoot black paint on it. And if you want an amazing finish, shoot some clear coat on top of the black paint. It will look like new... Same with the prop. It just needs some sanding and proper ZC and primer and paint and it too will look new. If you want to see how that looks in all stages, click on my OB rebuild project below and have a look... JMHO!

 

[RxBoat]

Good post.

 

[fishin98]

Cooled off a bit here in central Fla with lower humidity..decided to get my portable sandblaster out and blast the lower unit. Used walnut media, could not get the fine ,so I ended up using the coarse. Took it right down to the bare metal. Found some spots that I will need to reblast and fill in.