Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

[jtrom]

I'm restoring a 1959 Starcraft runabout that I'm giving a 1950's looking turquoise and white paint job. My outboard is has the factory Johnson dark army green paint from the '70's on the whole lower end....Would it be tacky to paint the out board the turquoise as the boat??? Opinions.......

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

Go for it. It will appear "different" but fine. It's your boat!

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

I think it was Sea Ray that offered a package before packages were popular with OEM's. The engine matched the boat and was really nice. On painting that particular engine I'd say anything you could do to change the color would be beneficial....other than paint it UT orange, like their 3 cylinder 75 hp stinger or was the stinger Evinrude?

Mark

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

If you'll paint it black it wo go faster... prolly 10 more mph!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

I've never been a fan of non-oem looking paint jobs on outboard. One exception though was this one: http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...91373330153_1419865203_32435453_2891691_n.jpg which is totally badass.

 

[allCAD]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

I'm restoring a 1959 Starcraft runabout that I'm giving a 1950's looking turquoise and white paint job. My outboard is has the factory Johnson dark army green paint from the '70's on the whole lower end....Would it be tacky to paint the out board the turquoise as the boat??? Opinions.......

Get out of my head...

I'm doing a restore that will have my now matte moss green boat a blinding combo of bright teal/turquoise and hospital white. It'll be pushed around by a '67 Super SeaHorse that from the cover down is that deep military/metallic green. I was considering the same thing: do I try and find a matching engine paint for the motor?

My biggest fear is a slight variation that will stick out: I can't use the same bucket of paint for the fiberglass as I do the motor, so getting them both to match would be daunting, and if I fail, it'll be noticable.

I'm actually wondering if simply re-doing the motor in the original colour would be a nice contrast. A kinda 'blue and green should never be seen, unless it's in your washing machine' (AAAARGH! She's finally gotten to me!) deal that works while clashing at the same time. I will do the motor cover in the same white paint as the boat to bring it all together (and in the process of re-doing the logos/labels, maybe the red triangle in the Johnson logo will end up being turquoise...).

If you already have access to matching motor and fibreglass paint (do share, btw), and your question is just about "should I?", then I say go for it. Don't worry about what other people might find tacky - it's your boat. I think the tackiest thing is boating around in a beater that gets no love, is filthy and rotting with a motor that sounds more like it's begging to just die than powering a boat because it also gets no love, but that doesn't stop countless people from doing just that on a regular basis.

Make yourself happy first and worry about strangers later.

 

[Philster]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

View attachment 119092Wellcraft's Scarab off-shore center console had a line with OB engines painted to match the boat. That was when they ran E-tecs. I think that, when done well, it looks good.

Just have some decals on the engine cover or it'll look naked.

View attachment 119091

 

[Krichbourg]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

I don't think tacky applies. Your boat. Your rebuild. Your vision. Of course this doesn't always apply to us married guys. It's always cool to see something different verses blending in with the herd. Enjoy that boat! Post some pics when you get it done.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

It will only be "tacky" if you don't do it well. Put the same care into the engine as I hope you are putting into the boat. And, It need not be the same color as the boat as long as it is harmonious---Take a cue from women: Mix and match accessories.

 

[LSP_NH_1974]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

"Any color you like it, as long as it's black." No, wait, that was Ford...I say if you want to match just make SURE it matches and doesn't just ALMOST match, please!

 

[JimS123]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

It will only be "tacky" if you don't do it well. Put the same care into the engine as I hope you are putting into the boat.

That's the key. I've done it both ways. If you paint the boat 2-tone, do the motor that way as well. If you stripe the boat and match the pattern on the motor it'll look real sharp.

Now, OTOH when you say "restore", that implies "to original" If you ever have any intention of entering the boat in a sanctioned antique/classic boat show, it better be original or it won't even place.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

IMHO.... Yes

I think a turquoise 70's outboard would look tacky on any boat.... If you can do a professional quality paint job, a white outboard would look good w ur turquoise boat.... better yet clean that engine up and sell it. Find a 50's outboard for your 50's boat

just my .02

 

[kewpie79]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

I like the original look of the old engines. Since your's is a 70's model, go with the matching paint scheme. If you like, it doesn't matter what others think. Here's my motor I refurbished.View attachment 119095

 

[Black Snow Slide]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

A friend of mine has a 38' Intrepid express cruiser. The enron paint he has is a burnt orange. The triple outboard are painted the same burnt orand and white as the Intrepid. His color scheam is WOW! Makes it look complete. Go for it!

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

A turquoise top and white bottom with some white pinstriping on the top end sounds pretty sexy to me!

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

Why not?... The worst outcome would be you might want to re-do the motor if you don't like it.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

Seeing how turquoise was a trendy color in the 50's-60's, and nobody would probably know the motor was a 70's, I think it would look great. Go for it - but you must post pics of the completed project! It's the Law!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

It's like the question for old cars: restore or hot-rod. If you are truly restoring and 1950's boat you want all original. If you are doing it for fun or want cool mods, paint away.

I have seen a lot of newer boats that they paint over the logos, etc on the cowl (all white) and maybe add a stripe that matches boat color.

As a preference, I think a solid white motor, maybe with detail, rather than solid turq.

Of course there is the third method--all OD for duckhunting, or all flat black for drug running.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

Now THAT'S the ticket..... paint the engine white and then get a graphics set printed up in the color your are painting the boat or a combination of that color and black.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Is painting your outboard the same color as the boat tacky?

X2 ^^^^ Use the graphics to match the boat color.