Question about painting Volvo Penta DP-SM

[dkempton]

Just boat a wellcraft with a VP DP-SM outdrive and I'm about to paint the bottom and outdrive. While looking at the outdrive I noticed that the anitfouling paint the last own used was really starting to flake but also noticed that the gray enamel VP OEM paint was flaking as well. My question is do I have to strip the whole drive down to the metal and prime and paint with Volvo OEM paint and THEN cover with anitfouling paint? Or can i just remove the flaking with a power washer and just cover with the antifouling paint? Looks like the last owner may have used the same paint for the bottom and the outdrive - thought I read some where that is a no-no....

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Question about painting Volvo Penta DP-SM

I'm about to repaint a 290DP, and I have soda blasted it down to the metal. That's kind of extreme, but it means I can do the best job possible painting it.

As part of my research for that I noticed that VP offers touch-up paints in the right colors for their drives, and also Interlux offers an antifouling paint specifically for sterndrives called Trilux.. see their docs for info on how to apply it.

Personally I'm going to use zinc chromate primer and an epoxy primer over that, followed by a good two part paint rated for submersion.

Erik

 

[dkempton]

Re: Question about painting Volvo Penta DP-SM

Thanks Erik,
I read your other post, that may a little bit out of my league... I did buy the Volvo paint in the spray can for the gray color of my drive but I was wondering how much stripping I have to do. I wasn't planning on stripping the entire outdrive...

 

[freelancer]

Re: Question about painting Volvo Penta DP-SM

Same drive as you D, like Erik said, I use zinc chromate primer (green or yellow) and finish in Volvo Silver or some think close. Fresh water boat mostly so powerwash in the fall and in the spring I just knock off the scale with a wire brush and a wire bit on the end of a drill. The drill helps especially if you have a lot of pitting on the surface with scale build up, just don't go crazy. I make sure that I clean off the surface and hit each spot that I brushed thoroughly with the zinc and in my case I just dump the rest of the can all over the drive. Then I use the finish paint. I have only used spray paint never brushed it on. FYI, I have never gotten into all of the nooks, just can't reach, I guess you could if you take off the drive. You can buy replacement stickers from Volvo to put over the new paint. 1st year I did it was the worst, every year since there?s not as much to do. Not recommending any of this, just telling you what I've done, comes out looking fresh and neat. Cover your props if you dont want overspray.

 

[kelleyja]

Re: Question about painting Volvo Penta DP-SM

I'm doing my drives now. Do a search here, there are several threads/methods for paint. I left the factory finish where possible, but went down to bare metal on any corroded spots. Going down to bare metal takes a little more work, you'll need to etch the aluminum, then apply primer before the volvo color coat. I'm trying Pettit Alumnaprotect for primer, its a 2 part epoxy but I hear the zinc chromate works well too. I'm doing, 1 coat epoxy primer, 2 coats regular primer, 2 coats OEM volvo silver metallic , then a clear coat..... I'll let you know how it lasts

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