My engines are being pulled today and I will be cleaning up the bilge area this week. What prep, paint and application are you guys using in this area?

RebarBox

I used a epoxy based paint from Boat US. Turned out great and it's indistructable.

What was your prep procedure and how did you apply?

I first wiped the bilge down with laquer thinner. Then I sanded the snot out of the bilge. This stuff is totally incapable of filling inperfections. I also did a small amount of filling. Wipe down with acetone, then wipe down again. I screwed up the first batch by over thinning it. The product had very poor coverage and was trying to run. The next batch I made much thicker and was satisfied with the results. I used a sponge brush around objects and a 1-1/2" diameter sponge roller for the open areas. There is some significant cure times that you must observe. You also must have a really good resperator. This stuff will get the most burned out paint head high.

Rebarbox, is that your 28ss in the Boat Trader for sale?

You guy's can go as crazy as you want with epoxy this and that, but after seeing what a friend of mine did in his bilge, I did what he did.
I went with High gloss "sunburst yellow" Rust Olium!
Just cleaned engine compartment with a good strong grease cutting cleaner, hosed it out , dried it, did a little sanding of the rough spots, completely wiped down with paint thinner and painted with a good quality brush.
The Rust Olium covers very well and has a very good leveling. That was a year ago this past spring, and it still looks great!

Thanks Cord - Sounds like the ticket.

White Diamonds - Ya, the old 28 is in the trader. Was flexable on price before burning one of the trans. out last weekend. Had to pull the engine to get to the trans. so I figured - pull them both and clean the area up. Might not be as flexable now.

TomR - Sounds like an idea, but I think I might try Cords method first.......and might end up completing the job with your idea.