I/O drive paint - protection from @!#$% barnacles

[abl1111]

Northeast boat. 4 year old, Mercruiser w/ Bravo 3. In saltwater (7) months a year. Mercathode fine. Been using excellent drive antifouling on drive.

The barnacle growth is insane !

Each Spring, I scrape and rough up (3M doodle pad) the drive and gimbal, 6 hours of work, then tape off and re-spray. During the season, I haul 2x and scrape again ( no paint ). At the end of the season, I acid and power-wash and rinse well.

Is there a better prep or paint out there ? My hull - gets almost no growth - I use Petit SLR ablative.

I did hear that some guys will epoxy the drive w/ several coats and then use regular hull paint - anyone know about this ?

Thx.

[castalot]

i had the same drive in ri i used interlux trilux black and only had barnacles in the stainless prop hubs none on the drive its self keep a close eye on the prop shaft seal area the duel props attack the drive in that area you can't see it unless you remove the props i installed a second mercathode thru hull system to stop the electrolysis
good luck and tight lines

[abl1111]

Thx for the reply. You said you installed a second mercathode " thru hull ". Is that different from the stock mercathode ? And, did you install or have it installed ?

I don't like the way my drive is being attacked by elect or galv corrosion. My mechanic says it's within 'normal' levels and to just prep and paint her for a new season.

I have always been concerned about the corrosion, but I never dreamed I'd be fighting and cleaning barnacles the way I have to.

[castalot]

yes it is different there are two "pucks" that mount on either side of the drive on the transom it's easy to install you just need to thru drill a small hole to run the wires and a couple of screws maybe 45 min to install very easy

http://www.mercstuff.com/mercathodekit.htm

look at the transom kit that's the one i installed

[abl1111]

Do these transom mount mercathodes connect to the same controller as the gimbal housing's controller, or do you have it wired to it's own, separate controller?

Also, do you ever have an issue w/ battery wear from the draw of the extra mercathode ?

Lastly, you get NO barnacle growth and you keep your boat in for a long season ?

[castalot]

yes it has it's own controller
no i didn't have any battery problems
the boat went in in april-may out in nov-dec the only barnicles were in the prop hub

good luck

[abl1111]

Thx for all the info... I'm going to install the supplemental transom mounted set up ( because I can't afford not to ) and test the area around my boat for electrical current after the boat is in. The electrolysis I'm seeing on my boat is slight, but I want none !

Thx again.