Painting Outdrive

[NatedoggAZ]

Hey all,

Hoping someone can assist...

Looking at painting my Mercruiser outdrive - just need some simple advice...

The outdrive unit year I have is 1987/88 - it is an Alpha One - and I believe one of the only years that Mercruiser made these WHITE...

I am looking to paint it GLOSS BLACK - because I think it looks better...

I live in AZ:
- No salt water within a few hundred miles
- Hardly ever rains here
- Not going to be sitting in the water

Just want to change the colors from WHITE (Sea Ray calls it Oyster) to GLOSS BLACK.

There is no rust or major chipping

I don't think I need to prime it first?? Just maybe scuff up what I can with 220 grit paper or something and repaint it with whatever gloss black paint?

Thanks!

ND

 

[tpenfield]

Maybe some steel wool to rough up the existing surface a bit, and then paint away.

 

[chevymaher]

I am using Hot Rod Black frame paint on mine. That stuff will stick and look good on a rock in a mud puddle with no prep at all. I would sand it just saying tho.

 

[Scott Danforth]

here you go...... from the iboats data vault.... which is repainted from the manual

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boa...ll-repair/392346-mercruiser-outdrive-painting

only the Searay drives got painted white.

I would scotch-brite the parts, hit with acetone, then fire up the spray gun and spray away.

 

[NatedoggAZ]

OK awesome - thanks!! Is there a preference as to the brand or type of paint? I have read some mixed reviews on the Mercury / Quicksilver Phantom Black - 92-802878Q spray paint...

 

[Scott Danforth]

oh, and welcome aboard

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Thank you very much!! - Back into boating after about a 30-year hiatus... Just got my first boat in my mid 40's...LOL!

 

[Scott Danforth]

OK awesome - thanks!! Is there a preference as to the brand or type of paint? I have read some mixed reviews on the Mercury / Quicksilver Phantom Black - 92-802878Q spray paint...

mercruiser manual uses PPG product. you can use anything you want. some people use rustoleum with the hardener.

 

[NatedoggAZ]

I think I might just go with the Rust-Oleum Professional ... I'm sure there are better paints... but for about $10.. its hard to resist the price...

I just have to hurry up and get it done - it will be 90 degrees here before I know it...!!

 

[Woodonglass]

I don't recommend the Rattle Can Rustoleum. I won't hold up well. You CAN use Rustoleum Pro Paint in a can and add Acrylic Enamel Hardener to the mix and it will wear like Iron. Check the link in my signature below

 

[Panoguy]

Hi: I had the same situation with my upper unit (replaced the lower with SEI aftermarket). I decided to totally strip mine down to the bare metal, then used some Restoration Shop brand etching primer and acrylic urethane for the topcoat (I even sprung for decals!). It looks great - hope that it holds-up!

Good luck with yours!!

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Holy cow - that looks beautiful...

My only problem is that my outdrive (and everything else) is still on the boat - so I will have to use a lot of tape and masking off the areas so I don't have overspray on stuff. I'm really trying to find a primer that can stick to the old paint - I might try that etching stuff...

 

[porscheguy]

Etch primer isn’t for painted surfaces. Use a real, 2-part epoxy. Any paint you use should have a hardener. Prep with red scotch brite pads.