paint on an outboard

[boater1234]

Hello to all.I have a 15hp merc that has some dings and some peeling paint but nothing to bad,but i want to repaint the areas that need it..My question is what should i use after i sand down the spots to bare metal?Is acetone safe to use on outboards or it there something else i can use to get the spots real clean of dust right before i put my self edgeing primer on?There is some spots that i will need to add some epoxy to,like some little dings that need to be filled and sanded but after i do that what do most people use to clean the area before painting?Also is there any other chemical that i can use besides acetone if acetone is ok to use in the first place?

Like i heard rubbing alcohol can be used to clean the areas also,is this true?Any help would be great as i want to start tomorrow thanks.

 

[JimS123]

Re: paint on an outboard

Be aware that acetone will harm paint, so use it sparingly and only over the spots you intend to repaint. I use it all the time and it works good. But my purpose is to ensure that any grease or oil is cleaned away. If all you want to do is dust it, use a tack rag.

 

[boater1234]

Re: paint on an outboard

Well all i want to do is make sure that the spot is 100% clean of any dust,grease or oils so i can make sure the paint will stay for good.It is only a few minor spots nothing real big.Do you think i could just use rubbing alcohol to clean the area?,as i have used it once before but it was for a quick clean on a motor that i was touching the paint up and it seemed to work great.I know alot about motors but i never paint them much so i need to know what to use.I mean like would soap and water work ok or some other chemical?I just want to make sure the places i'm painting are very clean so the primer and paint will stick good.Thanks for the info jim.

 

[5150abf]

Re: paint on an outboard

It would be best to paint the entire engine, doing spot work is pretty hard and the paint will never match what is already on the engine.

As long as you don't get any oil on during your prep just soap and water is fine, the last thing I do before painting a car is was it with regular dish soap and water but when I did my outboard I used laquer thinner on the spots with grease.

It really isn't that much more work to scuff the rest of the engine and paint the whole thing.

The primer is acid etch so it will stick adn you don't need much, it isn't a cover type primer, what I usd is translucent green/yellow and you just need to coat it.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: paint on an outboard

Aluminum should be washed down with vinegar and water if it is bare....... prime the bare aluminum with zinc chromate (a light coating almost a dusting coat is sufficient) then top coat with your paint.

90% of your paint job is in your prep...... the other 10% is proper paints and patience.

 

[boater1234]

Re: paint on an outboard

Well as far as matching the paint on the merc,they have an exact match as it's called phantom black,that is what they use when they paint all the new mercs as well as back some time now.The paint is a 100% perfect match as you can never tell were the new paint is compared to the older paint as long as the original paint is not faded bad.

I painted a skeg on a newer 2008 8hp 4stroke and it came out flat out perfect as you could never tell were it started or stopped.But i did not have to go through the big process i want to go through with this outboard as this one i'm doing is my personal motor i just picked.

The motor is really not bad at all as it just needs a couple of touch up as the paint is in excellent shape,no fading but there is a few nicks on the skeg down to the bare metal and under the cavitation plate were you really can't see there is some peeling paint.I'm going to sand it down good and add epoxy to the deep nicks or as i would say like pits in the metal,only a few,i just went out and bought some zinc chromate,it only comes in yellow at the marina i went to.The guy said that is the most important part of the paint process.He said 2 lights coats should do it.Also i don't need a clear coat to go over the merc as the paint has a nice gloss finish.

I will take a look at the whole motor and who knows maybe for some fun i just may put a nice coat of paint on the whole motor as it can't hurt as long as i do it right.Now on that if the paint is in decent shape but i want to paint it anyway do i still have to sand the whole thing down or can i just use a good degreaser or like acetone to make sure it's all clean and just spray the paint over it.Or should i go through the whole process of a light sanding some zinc chromate,some primer and then the finish.Any help would be great thanks.I have to redo my cowl anyway so whats a little more work as all i have is time to do this.

This is my hobby/business of buying and reselling small motors up to 25hp and small jon boats up to a 16ft boat.I buy and sell off craigslist and do very well.I have not worked a day in almost 3yrs since i have started this and i want to do this full time as i love working on this stuff.This is why i must learn all the ins and outs of like painting with you guys help.But this paint job like i said is for my own personal motor as i don't get to involved in painting used motors as i would loose my butt trying to make them pretty to sell them to people who are going to beat the **** out of them anyway.

Most people are not like me as i'm as anal as it gets with taking care of my toys.I never had alot of money growing up so i just take care of my stuff to the fullest.I just don't have the money to buy a nice motor and tear it up and then buy a new one like alot of people do and it's really a shame what people do to a newer motor.It's amazing when i go look at some motors for sale as they look like they have been hit by a train,also the amount of money they ask is just insane.Well thanks again for some good info you can give me and what you guys have given me so far.

 

[JimS123]

Re: paint on an outboard

If you intend to paint the whole motor, you WILL need to sand it completely or the new paint will peel. Be sure to remove any decals completely (don't just sand them). If you paint over them the paint will craze crack.

Alcohol is OK to use for cleaning, but I prefer acetone myself because I find that it works better. I only use it as a quick wipe before sanding, and after washing with Boat9 and a water rinse. I finish sand with 240 grit, then wipe with a tack rag just before priming.

Prime only those spots down to bare metal. Don't prime sanded black paint.

Put on a light prime coat where needed, wait 10 minutes and follow with a second light coat. Wait 1 hour then topcoat with a light film. Wait 1 hour and apply a second wet topcoat. Wait another hour and topcoat with clear. Wait 7 days and apply decals. Wait 7 more days and clearcoat the decals.

If you don't have time to follow this 3 hour procedure, wait at least 3 days between coats and sand again before you apply the next coat.

Personally, I always use paint made to factory specs and I never clear coat. The clear coated motors I see at the boat shows look beautiful, but they are not original. Factory paint should provide the original gloss. I only topcoat the decals with clear fuel-proof enamel from a hobby shop.

If you use zinc chromate, be verrrry careful because this stuff is extremely hazardous. I have used it in the past but now use Duplicolor self etching primer exclusively. I get it at NAPA.

Here's a Merc I did last year.

 

[boater1234]

Re: paint on an outboard

Nice job on the merc jim,that is a pretty motor.What did you use to cover all the bolts and the rest of the hardware?I only use factory paint also it just looks 100 times better.I really don't get into painting motors i sell but mine i will.So you say don't prime over the good paint just sand it down lightly,clean it off good with acetone and go over it with the factory paint,also that will tack up good doing it that way?The whole motor looks really good there is just some spots here and there and i may just do the whole thing as i plan on keeping it for myself.Also you say that zinc chromate is bad stuff huh?As far as toxic.

I have a ton of rustoleum self etching primer i got a walmart that i used on the newer 8hp i did and it came out perfect.Do you think in your personal opinion that the self etching primer is as good as the zinc chromate in overall protection for an outboard.Also the cowl is in great shape but it could use some touch up with a light spray.Also it says on the cans it is best to paint when it is cooler and low humidity outside,is this true?Or it doesn't really matter.One more thing to in your opinion do you think it's better to put a light coat of paint on and then go over it in the same day or let it sit a few days between coats?I want what will be the best way possible to do this as i will take my time and do this the best way i know how with your help by the way i thank you very much.

I just don't want it to flake or peel and last a long time.Any info you give me on redoing this i will write down and do it to a tee.More then likely i'm gonna go all the way and repaint it.If i sand the whole motor lightly not down to the bare metal all i need to do is just clean it good with a good degreaser and no primer at all just straight paint.Also will putting some primer on it help it at all or make it harder to paint.

Like i said 95% of the paint is in great shape but there is scratches and ding marks scattered all over and instead of spraying here and there i might as well do it all.Sorry i really get into this kind of stuff and can write forever.Ok hope to hear from you again.Like i said the route i 99% will take is a full repaint job so that can narrow down helping me on the steps i need to take to make it as perfect as possible.You also mention a product called boat9,what is that and were would i get it?Also were would i get tack rags?Thanks again jim.

 

[JimS123]

Re: paint on an outboard

I used ZnCr 30 years ago when that's all thats was available. Its highly toxic so use a respirator (not a face mask). Frankly I didn't think it was still available in the US due to environmental regulations. In recent years I have used the SEP. I have had good success, so I can't complain, but I'm sure its not as good as the old stuff, just like lead and asbestos were better than what is offered today. If I had some I wouldn't hesitate to use it, but I'd be real careful. Don't know about Rustoleum Primer...I only use Duplicolor becaue its the cheapest.

Paint needs to cure FULLY before its recoated, OR not cured at all. If you recoat somewhere in the middle, the first coat will gell and wrinkle. Follow my "hour between coats" and you'll be fine. If you get tired and come back the next day instead of waiting the hour you'll be sadly disappointed.

Good paint needs no more primer, but it won't hurt to prime it. If there are just too many blemishes, just prime the whole thing.

I only paint in the winter...by choice. I'm in the boat in the summer....LOL.


Boat 9 is simply a stonger version of 409 and its sold at West Marine. Check IBoats, its probably here too. Any paint store sells tack rags, right on the sandpaper shelf.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: paint on an outboard

I used Moeller brand outboard paint on my Johnny. Here is the before and after pics. The after pic is actually an OMC charcoal grey. Then 3 coats of their clear gloss. As you can see the cowl has new decals that I had made from our local screenprinters. I painted the cowl with the same paint as my boat, Brightsides Interlux. I used the roller method on that. The prop is actually the Mercury Phantom Black.

Before

after