Rustoleum or not

[Drivewayboater2]

I’ve got a gallon of rustoleum white paint that I’m considering using it to paint my entire bildge and engine bay. Is this a bad move or not? Seems to me that spending the dollars on a bilge coat product seems senseless. This is a trailer queen and will not be left in the water for more than a week at a time. Am I asking if there would be any issues using the rustoleum going forward? Has anyone used this product with success? Any thoughts from the experts here would be appreciated.

 

[matt167]

Rust oleum is alkyd enamel. Same product as marine topside paint. It’ll work just fine

 

[Drivewayboater2]

Thank you Matt. I was hoping that was the case. Appreciate the input.

 

[kcassells]

Yup big 10 4

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would add a hardener to it to make it wear a bit better

 

[matt167]

Hardener is a good idea. 4:1 will work if brushing. Just wear a good filter mask and goggles. Isocynates are rugged and deadly

 

[Danno1966]

I used Rutoleum on an old hull once and it turned out great. I was advised to thin it like crazy, and it went on smooth and had a great shine. Probably not as important in a bilge.

 

[kcassells]

Look up Wood on Glass rust oleum formula in this forum. I've used it entirely on my boat with great success. Unable to upload to you.
WOG rustoleum formula thinner and hardner

 

[kcassells]

Here it is

How should I go about painting/restoring these two sterndrives ?

These are two OMC Cobras, the boat is a 1990 Doral Monticello. So far I've gone over all I can with a wire brush attached to a drill and followed it up with dry sanding by hand with aluminum oxide 60 grit paper. (The pictures only show the before/after of the sterndrive on the left, I forgot...

forums.iboats.com

 

[kcassells]

Yea I don't know why that spray paint can was attached same formula less other stuff

https://forums.iboats.com/attachments/paint-recipe-final-pdf.378966/

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Rust oleum is alkyd enamel. Same product as marine topside paint. It’ll work just fine

FWIW marine topside paint is polyurethane resin. I wouldn’t use a straight alkyd enamel in a boat myself- get a polyurethane deck enamel or other normal marine paint imho. Better gloss and durability. Save the alkyd for the trailer.

 

[matt167]

FWIW marine topside paint is polyurethane resin. I wouldn’t use a straight alkyd enamel in a boat myself- get a polyurethane deck enamel or other normal marine paint imho. Better gloss and durability. Save the alkyd for the trailer.

You are 50% correct. Give or take. ‘Some’ topside paints are polyurethane. Others like Rust oleum topside paint is alkyd enamel