Need for Bottom paint on outdrive

[JV II]

The hardest to reach areas for the outdrive paint are the inside passages. So, if outward appearances are great: perfect paint job, no slime, no barnicles, no coral, no sea weed, then all is good, right? So, the outdrive paint job is doing the trick, right? Meanwhile, you are growing a diverse community of sea life all through the rotting pathways of your cooling system because you haven't started your engine and blown it all out every couple of days. But, the outside looks good. It must be said that the most important surface of the outdrive is the internal surface. By starting your engine and running it for a duration on a frequent basis will prevent clogging of the pathways with the same marine growth we are all concerned about on the outside of our watergear. With our concern over the appearance of the outer surface, we must accept that the inner surface is continuously exposed.

 

[gbolton]

I just bought my boat this year and the paint on the lower unit of the outdrive looked pretty rough, similar to Nehalennia (except that is was only the lower part). When I was getting my gimbel ring replaced, the mechanic had taken off my outdrive. I took it home, got a paint remover (disc) drill attachment and stripped the paint and repainted. It was pretty easy and now it looks great. You can go to any mercury dealer and get the mercury black spray paint and grey primer. I did two coats of each and it I am very happy with the results. It would be a little more difficult with the outdrive still attached, but still doable. Just make sure to tape off your outdrive well, to ensure you only paint what you want to paint.

Let's see pictures :thumbsup:

Okay, I am a little late with posting the pictures, but here they are.

This is my outdrive when I first bought the boat. The skag and props looked like they went through a gravel bed.

And here it is after I sanded the lower unit down and painted it. I also got the props reconditioned and balanced.