prepping and painting outdrives

Ransnan

Getting ready to paint my Bravo 3 outdrives for the first time, we bought the our 2003 342 last spring, and it was already painted, whats your tricks and tips for cleaning and painting? i want to try and avoid those pesky Barnacles as much as possible.

reneechris14

Zinc chromate for bare aluminum and outdrive paint for non ablative,don't use bottom paint on your drive.

Handymans342

You guys are wasting your money on the Merc black. Just use Rustoleum

Dream_Inn

Handymans342 said:

You guys are wasting your money on the Merc black. Just use Rustoleum

I buy one can and get at least 5 years out of it.  Not exactly the most expensive boating item I buy.  & it matches perfectly no matter where I touch up.

Oh, and I also agree that for those keeping it in the water, you need to use something else besides factory paint.

Dream_Inn

Sand and a little paint is probably fine.  You may want to use the antifoul though afterwards to help keep the barnacles off.

Black_Diamond

Are you looking to clean to the bare metal?  If so, CO2 or soda blasting is a nice and non-damaging method.

There is a nice post on here about prepping and painting.  Prep is critical for painting over aluminum.

J3ff

I just lightly sanded mine....not to the bare metal, same for the bottom of the boat, but I have the yard do that job...

reneechris14

Dream_Inn

Yep, renee posted the good stuff.  I keep mine on the lift, so I just touch up with the phantom black each year.   

craigswardmtb

I scuff sand the factory paint and brush on Pacifica Plus. It works great for our waters in CT/RI. If you only go with the factory paint your drive will likeky be fouled in no time. 

laureniac1

I used the quicksilver phantom black paint and it is WONDERFUL! I can't remember the primer I used. Just knock off the putting with some sand paper prime and paint. The phantom black is like factory new you will be happy.

Liberty44140

I've been using Trilux 33 antifoul on my drives. easy application from a spray can. Keeps them clean all summer. 

Ransnan

Do you still use primer? The drives aren't really bad. Just was gonna sand a little, and paint

06Rinker270

Here are two links that I found about painting a drive.  I wanted more info on Zinc Chromate.  

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=97217
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-repair-and-restoration/boat-restoration-building-and-hull-repair/461196-self-etching-primer-vs-zinc-chromate