Is there an effective antifouling for an outboard in salt?

[Polecat]

Everything I've been able to search out is said to still have problems...Trilux? Alumaspray? West marine?

[DaleH]

FWIW between my brothers and I we're running 11 OBs this season in salt water. For those motors too big to be tilted all the way out of the water (twin V6s on OB brackets) we paint the lower unit with Trilux 33. For best results we paint up to 1" higher above the typical waterline, to keep the scum line down.

One such boat is an '87 rig with original Yam motors and we have had ZERO issues using Trilux. Make sure to prep right - solvent wash, sand, solvent wash, then 2 good coats for first time, well stirred. LUs are pressure-washed in the Fall, then lightly sanded in Spring with a light solvent (acetone) wash. 1 coat to re-coat. Works for us :) ! I painted a neighbor's sailboat aux OB using this method and he's pleased ... less the black AF paint on his otherwise all-white OB. That said, we use the black only and through 40-years of boating (at least on this river) we find that black works the best.

We have had NO LUCK at all using any of those CLEAR anti-fouling paints. Thus we stay with the Trilux 33.

[Polecat]

Thanks DaleH - I have the primocon - guess I'll order some trilux33. Positive feedback helps a lot. All I'd found was what didn't work.
jim

[Hirilondë]

My outboard is in the water all the time, there is no way to tilt it up/out. I light sanded it brand new. I used a full can of Primocon in several coats just like the directions said. I then light sanded again and used a full can of Trilux in several coats just like the directions said.

In Stonington I had to clean slime off every 3 - 4 weeks. I could just lean over on the dock with a long handled deck brush and clean it off in a couple minutes I light sanded again this spring and added more Trilux. Now in Wickford I get barnacles in the same period. I have to clean the underwater portion every couple weeks now.

After cleaning I take a large plastic trash bag and submerge it and pull it up over the entire under water portion of the shaft and prop. I add about a cup of bleach to the water in the bag and tie it off above the water line. I then start my outboard and let it idle a few minutes. I then let the bag stay on for 15 minutes or so. I figure this kills anything I didn't remove including anything in the cooling system. It is a pain, but that's how it is in Mill Cove Wickford. If someone has a better anti-fouling, please let me know what it is.