Cheep running gear paint in salt water

[Riptide III]

I just pulled the boat today. This is the bottom before power washing. Nothing on the shafts props exhaust rudders or engine intakes. All I did was coat it with Rusoleum cold galvanizing paint. Under ten dollars a can. There is zero growth or barnacles. I should have done the tabs.

 

[ZZ13]

Tried several expensive coatings and a horrible custom coating made locally (that one ended up increasing the barnacle rate). Got the tip to use the Rustoleum a few years ago. Never had a barnacle on the props since using it. Like you, I plan to do all the underwater metal with it next haul.

 

[hottoddie]

Been using it for a few years with the same result.

 

[romanservices]

damn.. boat was just out of the water yesterday full of barnacles on the running gear. wish I would have seen this a little sooner.

 

[lawndoctor]

I'm showing my ignorance here, but does the zinc content of the paint pose any problem with electrolysis or galvanic corrosion?

 

[kap2]

I've had the same success for the last 4 years.

 

[Riptide III]

I'm showing my ignorance here, but does the zinc content of the paint pose any problem with electrolysis or galvanic corrosion?

Apparently not. The boat yard has been using it for years. My gear looks great and my zincs have never looked better. I'm sold on it.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Just to clarify something--you aren't painting your zincs are you?

 

[Riptide III]

Just to clarify something--you aren't painting your zincs are you?

No never. Sorry if it sounded like that.

 

[hottoddie]

I'm showing my ignorance here, but does the zinc content of the paint pose any problem with electrolysis or galvanic corrosion?

Think about it. You add sacrificial zincs to your shafts, rudders and trim tabs. The zinc coating is the less noble of the metals you are applying it to. Therefore the coating will eventually degrade and cause no harm to the stainless and bronze components you apply it to. Barnicles do not grow on zinc therefore it is the perfect coating.

 

[lawndoctor]

Think about it. You add sacrificial zincs to your shafts, rudders and trim tabs. The zinc coating is the less noble of the metals you are applying it to. Therefore the coating will eventually degrade and cause no harm to the stainless and bronze components you apply it to. Barnicles do not grow on zinc therefore it is the perfect coating.

Yeah, that is what I was thinking. And we use zinc-containing primer on aluminum drives. Rustoleum does make marine bottom paint, but it contains copper, not zinc. Wonder why they don't market their zinc spray paint for the running gear.

 

[MikeWood]

Sorry for my ignorance, but I've never seen this before. Is this also a solution for outdrives like the bravo 3?

 

[Espos4]

I'm interested in this as well.

Anyone with experience using this on a Bravo 3? You've got at least 2 people awaiting you're experience.

 

[Sous]

That's all I use if you look at the msds you'll see it's really the exact same thing as the $40 a can running gear paint.

 

[SteveRuss]

These guys are talking about running gear (as in inboards) not I/Os. You don't zinc spray your outdrives. Rustoleum is owned by the same company that owns Pettite Paints. Their galvanize spray costs $30 so that's why they don't promote the Rustoleum one. Same chemical composition by the way.

 

[hottoddie]

I'm interested in this as well.

Anyone with experience using this on a Bravo 3? You've got at least 2 people awaiting you're experience.

If you look at the chart of common metals aluminum is just above zinc on the nobility chart. Not sure how well zinc would protect and aluminum drive. It may be ok if you protect the drive with a barrier primer before applying the zinc. Not sure about this BTW.