Zinc chromate is better than zinc phosphate, but may be harder to find since it is considered a professional product. Use a respirator with any of this stuff - especially zinc chromate.

Used Dupont DP90 primer over bare aluminum, followed by black Imron. So far, it has held up nicely. Even survived a 40 MPH whack against a submerged stump without a scratch or a chip. Good stuff!

Thank Tinderboat. Any thoughts on the need for a clear coat after the Imron? Paint guys says not needed.

BT

The clear coat isn't needed and boaters world has the zink chromate primer.

Well just to give you a little different slant from someone who has painted more aluminum in worse applications than most...

If the aluminum is bare clean and RIGHT AWAY treat with Dupont's Alodine (225S & 226S)

Then use an two component epoxy primer (you can use zinc chromate first, but it is not necessary).

Then use Imron, but we strongly prefer the Industrial Dupont coatings (web site shows industrial dealers). They have 30% solids and are much more like the thickness of the original powder coating than regular Imron. Lastly we do use the high solids clear also. You don't have to but there is no down side as you get a real protective coating with respect to gloss retension and thickness. Respect recoat times on the can.

My $.02. What has been previously recommended is fine also, just giving you a best approach in my opinion.

Ted

any thoughts on what to to fill the little pits in with that were caused by the corrosion? it's not necessary but it will make it look nicer. i was thinking titanium putty. i just picked up a quart of the "variprime" two part self etching epoxy primer. it does have zinc chromate and titanium dioxide in it already. must be good stuff, thanks for the tip.