Lower unit painting?

[ZmOz]

I just bought a new lower unit on ebay for my inline 6. It is supposedly just painted, unfortuneately, it's Mariner gray and I need it to be Mercury black.<br /><br />Assuming the paint was done well, and I can just spray over the top of it, what kind of paint should I use? Will regular automotive paint work?<br /><br />Also, if it needs to be stripped, what kind of primer should I use? (and where do I get it?)

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Lower unit painting?

I it were me, I'd give it a light sanding to rough up the paint and promote adhesion. The Mercury 'phantom black' paint is the way to go. If you find out in a season the paint won't hold up and peels, then strip and prime with an etching primer then reshoot the phantom black again.<br /><br />You can get the paint at almost any marine store. Price is manageable. Good luck!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Lower unit painting?

Do yourself the favor and use a Zinc chromate primer and then top coat with Mercury Phanton black paint. Otherwise you get maybe 6 months out of your paint job before it starts to peel. Your local marine supplier should have both products..

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Lower unit painting?

As Dingbat says ...<br /><br />It's worth spending a bit of time getting it right.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Lower unit painting?

Found some Phantom Black:<br /> http://www.iboats.com/mall/index.cg... paint&**********=123316069&*******=638388902 <br />I must say, I'm shocked how cheap it is. I just spent nearly double that for a friggin carb float from the dealer! How many cans do you think I'll need?

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Lower unit painting?

I think 1 can will get you a couple coats easy.<br /><br />I was shocked too when I picked up a can of Phantom Black from the dealer. I guess you can drive the cost down when you use the same damn colour for 30 years.

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Lower unit painting?

Originally posted by dingbat:<br /> Do yourself the favor and use a Zinc chromate primer and then top coat with Mercury Phanton black paint. Otherwise you get maybe 6 months out of your paint job before it starts to peel. Your local marine supplier should have both products..

Agreed but, there's less than 6 months left in the boating season around here. This was a quote from Zmoz in an earlier posting elsewhere, and is why I recommended the quick sand & spray:<br /><br />

I would LOVE to take my time looking for the best thing I could get, but I'm in the same situation I was in last year, that is, it's the end of July already and if I don't get this thing out on the water very soon you guys will all be hearing about me on the news.......I may try to fix it later, but for right now, nothing would make me happier than to just bolt on something that works.

 

[Captn Dave]

Re: Lower unit painting?

Zinc chromate won't do any good unless it's applied to bare aluminum.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Lower unit painting?

Here is what mine looks like after painting last year. I used automotive primer & synthetic enamel.<br />I am very satisfied with the result.<br /><br /><br />

 

[Triton II]

Re: Lower unit painting?

Good job Solittle...