Painting my outdrives

[Coastal Confessions]

I have both of my Alpha One drives off for the winter to replace impellers and give them a general once over sense the boat was new to us last year, and we are finding the previous mechanic didn't do so great. One of my projects is to sand down many years of bottom pain and repaint the drives to there original look. I have one wire brushed down to the nice shinny aluminum. I primered it with kraylon 98% zinc primer and I have two cans of Mercs Phantom black paint. Should I clear coat it after? And if so what with?

 

[RidgeRunner]

Can't offer advise, but share your desire for a proper outdrive. My BIII outdrive was covered in Barnacles when hauled out for the season.
Many phone calls and discussions later, I light sanded the factory finish after painstakingly removing all sea growth. I plan on priming with Interlux PRIMICON (rattle can and roll) this spring followed by 2-3 coats of Pacificia Plus. I know that will not give glossy, smooth, factory like finish but at this point I'm after protection.

 

[wrvond]

I'd say most people don't bother with a clear coat, but Mercury recommends using their clear coat - 92-802878 53.

 

[MancaveII]

Your results will vary on protection level with just the zinc/gloss paint. I did the same thing the first two years and I'm in mostly fresh/brackish water. The drives looked great, but honestly the level of protection wasn't the best. If you boat sits in the water, find/use a good protective coating like RidgeRunner mentioned. Consult your local marina/boat shop for best results as there are so many paints that work best in a given body of water.

 

[Jeremygavin]

I use interlux trilux 33 and have very little growth at the end of the season. The key is annual maintenance. Every year I clean the growth off the drive and repaint them with a coat of trilux. If you don't keep the boat in the water then the mercury gloss paint is fine.

 

[RidgeRunner]

I'm getting to jump in full bore on the outdrive. A good wiping down with solvent and I'm ready to put numerous coats of my primicon primer on. I figure a full day drying in-between coats.

 

[bbwhitejr]

Granted I am in freshwater and on a trailer when not in use, but 2-springs ago, I knocked the corrosion off, scuffed the factory paint with a scotchbrite pad, then 3 coats of zinc-chromate(one coat e/15 mins), and finished with 4-coats of Phantom Black(one coat e/15 mins). The keys are temp and humidity. I had a perfect 75* day and extremely low humidity(30%). Still looks perfect!

I did touch up the leading edge of the skeg last spring.

Bennett

 

[Tonka Boater]

Granted I am in freshwater and on a trailer when not in use, but 2-springs ago, I knocked the corrosion off, scuffed the factory paint with a scotchbrite pad, then 3 coats of zinc-chromate(one coat e/15 mins), and finished with 4-coats of Phantom Black(one coat e/15 mins). The keys are temp and humidity. I had a perfect 75* day and extremely low humidity(30%). Still looks perfect!

I did touch up the leading edge of the skeg last spring.

Bennett

Ditto for me. I scuffed with sandpaper and applied 2x zinc then 2x phantom black. The shine was outstanding and has lasted 2 seasons so far. I'll hit the drive again in April because I hit some skinny sand leaving the gas dock last fall and wore off some of the black.

 

[Joel_MD]

If you keep your boat in the water during the season you may want to consider Pettit Alumaspray for the outdrives. It gives a little bit of anti-fouling ability to your outdrives. My previous boat had outdrives and I kept them painted with Alumaspray. When it was time to sell the boat I repainted with the factory paint because it looked nicer.