Hey twin OB, going to paint my out drive this spring. Not using spray gun, doing it right from the can. It’s a black merc. Recommendations for prep and type of paint would be great. I’m a novice at this stuff. Although I repainted my aluminum swim platform last year and it came out pretty good. Didn’t feel like taking it off, sandblasting and powder coating it. So I scraped, sanded, primed and painted with topside metal above water paint while it was on the boat. Don’t need to do the whole out drive, just a touch up in some spots. Thanks

I am also doing drives, boxes and tabs. Here's what was posting in the past - seems pretty intensive!!!

How to refinish drives:

We had no longetivity from Powdercoat.

Dismantle everything, a lot of Special tools needed, some we make, some we buy from Mercury.
Acetylene torch sometimes needed to get the pins out.

Slidehammer or pin remover
Wash everything with degreaser. Tape up drive pivot pin holes, no blasting in there.

Media blast with used sand to get most of the paint off,then switch to walnut shells to finish up, they leave the surface very nice.

Next the very nice surface goes away[img]file:///C:/Users/JFRICK~1.HAL/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif[/img], we use 3M alodine treatment, step 1 spray all parts with part A, an acid that removes all debris we can not see in the porous metal. Walnut shell, dust, etc. do not let it dry, rinse it off well.

Blow dry. Part B is then applied, don not let it dry, the metal will turn golden color. Rinse well. Blow dry. The alodine coating now needs primed within 3 hours.

We use Awlgrip primer. 545, the sand it the next day, and reprime if needed.

We use Awlgrip Super Jet Black to cover, with emphasis on cover, before look good. Sometimes I let it dry 2 days , sand, and re coat for pretty.

Don't forget to call Stickerboy, (Kinetic Animation), for new M6 decals.
All this works great......

if you don't go to Key West Races for a week in the salt. We get about 2-3 years out of the paint, we always are in Salt Water, except for the Cig Rondevous -see ya there.

Thanks for the response Frick. That sounds a little above my pay grade, lol. Probably going to use a wire brush and 800 grit sandpaper. Then go online and find a primer and spray paint that’s recommended

Although Fricks method is correct, I still do a ton w/rattle cans.

It still comes down to prep.

If water and or salt can get under the paint it will.

Rattle can paint isn’t close to as strong as two part automotive style paint though.
In comparison, it’s very soft and scratches easily.

That being said, I use a ton of Rustoleum.

Strip the loose, bubbling old paint, sand and clean the metal/base (to give the new paint teeth) w/acetone or similar then prime and paint.

Will buy you time at the very least.

Back on subject.

Done, other than motor graphics.

What a visual improvement all the way around!

Back to rattle cans…., Ive done a dozen or so sets of car wheels in rustoleum including the wheels on this trailer.

I did the wheels on the wife’s Jeep nearly 10 yrs ago and they still look like new and is only one chip in one wheel.

Not bad for $5 of paint.

Graphics done on one motor and really like the look.

That is a sweet time machine. Great job on the project.

Looking forward to seeing it up on the lake this season.

We're doing the annual Cig / boating get together up at PIB 8/8 - 8/12 (weekend AFTER LEOPA run). You should plan to do one of your Middle Bass weekends up there. We'll stop by like we were supposed to last time, and hopefully Kelly (or me) can keep it together that long.....

Thank you sir and you’re on!

Spoke to Kelly a wk ago and got a progress report.

Really sad that you didn’t make it last time.
We just happened to be walking between the marina and JF Walleye’s when you guys were coming over and the motors sounded orgasmic!!!

Do you guys know about the poker run that stops at Huron?
We we’re returning from a lunch run to Quaker Steak in Vermilion 2 yrs ago as they were leaving.

I was blown away at the number of boats and the “A” level of hardware!

My boat is too small to run w/them unless it’s one of the 1/1000 days the lake is calm but would be cool to drool over them at dock.

Yes - we were planning to make a stop - we were just running around the islands in a big loop and were gonna stop in there. I had called ahead to the marina and got us two spots actually - alas, it was not meant to be. Next time!

That is most likely LEOPA Thunderfest that stops in Vermillion, Which is typically early August timeframe.

I know there was another smaller run on the area, but unsure which group that would be.