Is your marine engine in need of paint job?  If you’re thinking of selling your boat or even if you’re not, no one wants an engine to look unsightly because of past fluid leaks.  If a potential buyer can spot signs of rust or possible corrosion, it may be time to makeover your marine engine with a paint job.

Makeover your Marine Engine with a Paint Job

Boat Engine Preparations – Fix it & Clean it bbefore you Paint It

The first step before painting is to determine the cause of the corrosion or rust which is almost always a leak; this could come from the engine itself, a loose hose, the engine pump, or maybe even from water spraying onto the engine.  This may take a little detective work but if the problem isn’t fixed before painting the engine, the problem will continue to occur no matter how good the engine looks after painting.

The next step is to inspect all of the clamps and hoses, replacing those that may be rotted or cracked.  Follow this by removing all parts from the engine that can be taken off easily.   The next step is to clean the boat engine with a quality degreaser; Formula 21 Cleaner & Degreaser (formerly known as ‘Black Jack’) is available from many marine retailers as well as online retailers including Jamestown Distributors (USD $7.41/quart).  You can also try the bio-products offered by our partner, Wise Solutions.

Marine Engine Painting Prep – Taping & Paint Choices

After a thorough cleaning, use painter’s tape to mask off any openings, hoses, and wires, to create a professional looking result.  For your choice of paint, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) paint or equivalent is your best bet to maintain the overall value of your marine engine; if you choose to use a non-OEM paint, ensure that the engine paint will be able to withstand the high temperatures that an engine produces.

There are several paint products available on today’s market specifically for marine engine use including:

• Moller Marine – this acrylic lacquer paint is both solvent and heat resistant and can easily be matched your to original engine color; for use on outboard/inboard engines; ($7.50 for a 12 ounce spray can)
• Tempo Marine Ultra Marine Enamel – quick drying, heat resistant; no primer required; ($13/12 ounce can)
• Moller Marine Clear Coat Marine Lacquer – increases luster; helps to protect your new paint job from the environment; ($8/12 ounce can)

Marine Engine Paint Techniques

Apply the paint to your clean engine following the instructions provided on the spray can.  Allow a few days for this portion of your engine makeover project as it may take more than one coat of paint plus drying time in between.

Once your engine has been painted and is dry, it’s time to reattach any hoses or parts removed.  But before doing so, this is the time to take advantage of the removed parts and reassemble the engine using new gaskets.  Reasonably inexpensive, there’s truly no reason to try and reuse a gasket which will more than likely cause a leak in the end.

By doing your homework, gathering the necessary materials in advance, and using some elbow grease – making over your marine engine with a paint job could be a satisfying project that will benefit both yourself and your engine.

Sources:
Moller Marine
Tempo Marine
Dickerson Boat Service Log
Jamestown Distributors