ENGINE BRACKET: HOW TO REPAIR BOATYARD DAMAGE TO BRACKET POWDER COAT..??

[NIGHTIDES]

Spring time inspection of the shrink-wrap hull & bracket revealed that when 'blocking' the boat for it's winter nap the boat yard's fork lift crushed into the Gil Bracket. This damaged the paint / power coat of the bracket just about where the engine mounting holes are. Need to repair it before it goes back in the saltwater.

Gil Marine says to clean the chipped up area well and Imron the spot. Has anyone else repaired or painted exposed aluminum such as this and if so what prep is needed..? Don’t want to have the bracket begin to corrode from a poorly done repair..

Thanks for the assist

[kerno]

As long as you use a good primer, you should be OK. Armstrong uses Imron on their brackets and they hold up very well. Most of the makers of bottom paint offer good aluminum primers, which should be applied prior to the Imron or any other two part poly paint. There's no need to spray it, brushing works just fine.

[yottyboy]

Try this:

I've used this on many boaty things and it's a very nice product thatyou can mix in small batches for touch ups. On aluminum, sand andprime with self etching zinc chromate.

[NIGHTIDES]

Thanks for the advice.. Boat yard may supply Imron for repair. I will prep the area to make sure it is done right...Will know in a few days.

Yotty: is there a name that you know of for the self etching zinc chromate..?? Thanks.

[seaquestwest]

Ive repainted the hydraulic lift on my outboard with zinc chromate as a primer. Any marine store will sell it. Wire brush, sand the alumn as best you can, clean with acetone and put a couple coats of zinc chromate on. This is nasty stuff so use in a well ventilated are or use a proper respriator. I then used evinrude outboard engine paint and put 3 to 5 thin coats on, great paint, dries quick but is soft for many days but eventually gets quite durable.

good luck

[prober]

In the aircraft industry we call zinc chromate "green death". It is the only primer that will last on aluminum that is exposed to the elements.

[NIGHTIDES]

Well the yard that did the damage decided to take a pass on accepting responsibility for the chipping of the bracket..

With the more pressing need to get this boat out of the yard and in to the water, I have done the repair as follows:

1. cleaned affected area of chipped paint down to bare metal. Sanded the area to an 'almost' bright metal finish..
2. used West System aluminum cleaner and etching liquids to etch the metal.
3. taped area off and applied Spectrum paste color matched gel coat. ( just found I had a jar of this in hand so I did not have to wait for one to be delivered ).
4. sanded dried gel coat down to a smooth finish then waxed area.

Job is done. The drying time for the Two Part Polyurethane was like 20 hours or more given the 50 degree temps we have. Needed to do several coats.. Too much time to spend on this repair.. Gel coat paste I hope has done the job for now... or until the yard bangs into it again..