After years of use and sitting out in the elements, the outboard motors' finish will break down and degrade, leaving it looking chalky and dull. No amount of polishing will restore the shine. It may be time for you to consider repainting.
If your engine has passed the maintenance point and needs a refresh, you have options. You can do it yourself; it's not that hard if you don't mind a little effort. All it takes is a weekend or two, and some elbow grease, sandpaper, masking tape, solvent, factory touch-up paint and a new decal kit.
Or you can have a professional do it. Remember, this is not a cheap job. It is not the type of work that is typically done by automotive or even marine painting experts, so it will cost more.
If you do it yourself, the cost will be much less, depending on the size of the engine and the cost of materials.
The fairing is the first thing everyone sees, so it's a good place to start. The rest of the engine is a little stronger because it is usually attached to your boat, which means the transom can be shielded from potential overspray. Don't be one of those people who accidentally sprays the engine without protecting the boat.
The fairing is relatively easy to repair. In this case, let's assume it needs a complete rebuild. Start by removing it from the engine. Protect the exposed powerhead with a large plastic garbage bag and carefully install and secure it with a large elastic cord.
Decals can be removed quickly and relatively painlessly using a heat gun or hair dryer. Heat them slowly and use a razor paint scraper to remove them completely.
CG C SERIES COLORFUL OBM ----RED 15HP OUTBOARD MOTOR
Spray the enamel using a complete sweeping motion, keeping the same distance between the spray can and the vestibule.
If not replacing the lower seal at the bottom of the front hood, use masking tape to protect it.
It is important to release your finger from the spray button at the end of each sweep, otherwise you will be applying more paint to the surface at the end of each sweep, which may result in too much paint.
Apply several coats of paint to the fairing to ensure complete coverage and to avoid a "hazy" or "foggy" appearance. After the colored coats have completely dried, you can leave them as is or apply a glossy clear coat for a brighter shine.
If installing a new lower seal, wait at least a day or so after painting to allow the paint to harden.
Before installing decals, wet the surface with a cleaner in a spray bottle. This will allow you to position them and move them around without tearing them, and also allows for the removal of air bubbles behind the decals. You can follow CALON to see our spare parts and accessories.
It helps to carefully cut the decals to size and place them on the hood before attempting to apply them.
Cut the decals to fit the front hood and lay them out beforehand. Use masking tape to position the decals in place, then peel and stick them on. The result will be a new looking fairing that will make you proud of your engine again!
There are many nooks and crannies that need to be cleaned, sanded and prepared for a great finish.
Start by looking carefully at all areas and their surroundings. You must remove all built up grease, gunk, oil and dirt. This alone will require a roll of paper towels and plenty of acetone.
After cleaning, use any tool you can to sand the paint off the entire midsection, fixture brackets, trim units, swivel brackets, steering arms and lower units.
The outboard's midsection and power trim unit have been disassembled, sandblasted, sanded and coated with zinc chromate primer. It is now ready for primer sealer and paint.
When finished, remove the masking tape, reinstall the struts and anodes, and your shiny outboard engine will be ready for years of use.
We all want to make our outboard last longer and save the cost. Please drop ua a line at CALON to talk with us and get the quote you want.
