Painting an outboard.

[bic-it]

I have a 1977 Johnson 175. It is in desperate need of a paint job. It has the original paint and what's left of the original decals. I would like to paint it solid color, white or black. I would like some help on how to do this correctly. Sand? Prime? Paint? I don't really know much about how to go about this. I also would like to put some type of decals, any ideas? Thanks a lot for any help.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Painting an outboard.

paul, i have painted many of my motors my self. why not go to the evinrude dealer and pick up a few cans of the origonall paint. less than 10 bucks. <br /><br />you will want to sand any FLAKING paint first, and also clean ALL grease with acetone or equivelant. <br /><br />prim all bare surfaces with ETCHING ALUMINUM SPRAY PAINT, sold at any marina store, west marine, boaters world, boat us, or even here at iboats primer <br /> outboard paint

 

[lark2004]

Re: Painting an outboard.

'ETCHING ALUMINUM SPRAY PAINT' <br />Also sold at any hardware store or autoshop!

 

[gsbodine]

Re: Painting an outboard.

bic-it,<br />Mike's method (more or less) worked for mine (a 1978 Johnson 150). It didn't have any decals on it when I got it though, and I haven't been able to find out what exactly they looked like around our vintage so that I could try to duplicate them. Regardless of what shape they're in, do you think you could post some pics or email some to me? I figure they're probably similar to what mine looked like. Click my home page icon there to see what it looks like (if it's similar). I sure would appreciate it.

 

[bic-it]

Re: Painting an outboard.

Ol' Norse,<br />Your cowl looks just like mine. Looks like the exact same engine. I don't have a digital camera, but my dad does and I will try to borrow it and get you some pictures. I would not recomend trying to duplicate the decals though. They are about the ugliest things that I have ever seen. A nice combination of brown, orange, and another color that is at best undescribalbe.

 

[gsbodine]

Re: Painting an outboard.

Paul,<br />I figured the engines would be very similar-looking that close together and all. I would still love to see the pictures, even if it is that ugly. I suppose that's why they were stripped off in the first place. It does look pretty good in all white, but I guess curiosity has gotten the best of me. <br /><br />Thanks for the response, and I'll keep an eye out if you do get the pics up. If you just wanna email them, just send them to oldnorse @ psogos.com.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />shan

 

[frappazza]

Re: Painting an outboard.

the best primer for alluminium is epoxy primer,other kinds also work but salt water oxidate everything,is only how long the painting will last.<br />Remember to chek the anodes,their electic contact with ground and obviously dont paint them as somebody done on my engine before I bought it!

 

[Maximerc]

Re: Painting an outboard.

Painted teh bottom end on my old Johnson with 2 part epoxy it lasted three years .. all I did was sand it with 120 grit , it was a quicky but it sure held up good

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Painting an outboard.

This is something I will be doing this fall when i am done using my boat. My Merc is black, but I am thinking of repainting it white. I loved the way my 63 Merc I6 looked white, I can't see why my 1250 won't look cool white. I also just aquired a 57 Johnson 5.5 horse that I will use as a kicker, replacing my Goodyear Seabee. I was never fond of the maroon/white color scheme on those late 50s Johnson, so it too will be painted white to match the Merc. The purists will shriek, but its my boat. I just think white outboards look cleaner, more sleek (although the ominous Darth Vader-ness of the I6 being black is cool too). I think I am just going to get some etching primer and some cans of OMC white, it should do the trick...

 

[troyt]

Re: Painting an outboard.

Okay, I have to throw out a few basics here:<br />Sanding - Always use a block (wood or other) behind the sandpaper. Depending on the old paint condition, start med. coarse and work your way down to at least 320. The feathering should show metal, paint and primer areas. If you are unsure, spray with a solvent and look across the shiny area. You should see no edges. This is especially important if your finish color is dark or black.<br />Paint - Use at least two thin coats of primer. I've never used two part epoxy, but any of the others you should LIGHTLY sand between coats, just enough to remove any sheen, but not the remove the primer. If you did the first step correctly and you again use a block, this will be easy.<br />Go with at least two coats of paint, allowing complete drying between, and light sanding just as above. DO NOT move the spray can back and forth just holding down the spray button. The can should be moving before you press the button and you should let it go before the end of the "stroke". Think of the can like a brush and start and stop before each pass across the painted area. Mask everything around the area well.<br />Sorry if this is too basic, but more people DON'T know how to use a spray paint can than those who do. Dad, thanks for teaching me!