Bracket - Does it get painted or not?

[peterb]

My new boat has a full flotation bracket to support twin engines. I will be bottom painting the boat within the next week. Do I have to prep the aluminum bracket in any way so that barnacles and other crap don't start living on it?

[Trayder]

paint it as if you would the rest of the boat unless it is bare aluminum then there are some special procedures like that of painting trim tabs. I think you may also need a sacrificial zinc?

[BigLew]

Yes, you probably should paint it with A/F paint. There are some special aluminum/metal cleaning/prep products and even special aluminum formulated A/F paints. Check the Interlux and Petit websites for further information.

Regarding zincs. Likely you should. Is the bracket tied to your grounding system? If so, how and where is it grounded to? They are probably a good idea, but in moderation. There is a possibility of "over-zincing" and the results are not pretty. Check in some marine maintainance publications/books. I would suggest checking if Nigel Calder has written anything on the subject. He is a terrific source of information and has a number of books on boat repair, maintainance and general care. He breaks things out by subject and explains, in significant detail, what is going on and why the solution(s) are numerous and taylored to a specific set of circumstances. Some would say it will be more than your ever wanted to know, but you will come away with a much better understanding of what YOU need and why. "YOUR DOCK MATE's" solution could be exactly what you DON'T NEED or WANT! Ever boat is different!

Good luck!!

[warthog5]

Do Not use a bottom paint that has ANY copper if it's a alum bracket.

You want a bottom paint on the bracket that is designed for a alum boat.

If it has copper in the paint it will eat the bracket.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...g+Bottom+Paint

[BigLew]

Warthog,
I am so glad you caught that. Copper/tin is more noble a metal than aluminum and will cause corrosion/anodization of the aluminum. Further, Aluminum needs to be primed before application of a proper antifouling paint. Thanks!

[Trayder]

The bracket is power coated or previously painted with Imron or other paint (check out the pictures in the other thread) is that not enough barrier to the ill effect of bottom paint that may have copper in it?