Click for Ocean Alexander Click for Mulder Click for Mag Bay Click for Abeking Click for Cross

Repaint / touch up engines

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Danvilletim, Mar 25, 2021.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2011
    Messages:
    794
    Location:
    isleton, ca
    What’s the best approach to repaint 2012 MANs? This is for aesthetics and wanting to have the engine room shine. Is it best to spray? I’ve seen plenty of crappy rattle can jobs Anyone in ft lauderdale specialize in this? Any cost estimates?
  2. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    I'll be curious to hear the answer just out of curiosity. I have a feeling the answer will make your eyes pop and have you running for the rattle can. There's an awful lot of prep involved.
  3. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Rattle can. You can't beat the CAT matterhorn white rattle cans. They cover really well and etc. Tape everything, cover everything well, ventilate well. It's a real PITA job. WHY would they need to be painted at that age? A little touch up painting here and there yeah.
  4. Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2011
    Messages:
    794
    Location:
    isleton, ca
    As long as it matches. It doesn't look bad now but some paint peeling off factory painted hoses, chips, etc. I was on a few mid 2000s boats at the PB show today and their engines were painted out very nicely. With all the prep in mind its not hard to pull a paint down there if it were to do a better job.
  5. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2007
    Messages:
    645
    Location:
    smithfield, VA
    A couple of years ago I paid $1500 to have my 10 cyl Mans painted and detailed. They do seem to be a few that specialize in detailing the engine compartment but a little hard to find.
  6. jesid123

    jesid123 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2006
    Messages:
    23
    Painted my 18 year old CATs a couple of years ago - a lot of bang for your buck!!
    The CAT matterhorn white cans work well.
    Prepping is key - tape, cover and ventilate well. I also used aluminum foil to wrap the hoses.
    Also, you don't have to knock it all out in one weekend. I did a section at time over a one month period - piece of cake!
    TahoeJohn likes this.
  7. BRyachts

    BRyachts Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2006
    Messages:
    122
    Location:
    Ft Lauderdale
    I've painted many engines. Never, ever, ever, with a rattle can!!! If I walk into an engine room and see the engines have been painted with a rattle can I know I've got a lot of work ahead of me because amateurs have been maintaining the boat.
    Either prep and brush, or prep and pro spray gun.
    Generally Awlgrip Matterhorn white, but can vary according to existing. One set of Detroits was "Full Heineken Green" another set of Cats were Metalflake Red. (Looked good with lots of chrome and all blue silicone or stainless braid hoses.)
    Sometime done hot spots or turbo runners with BBQ Crinkle black.
    And Yes, there are a number of painting contractors in Ft Laud that will do this. But it is neither quick nor cheap. Best done when in the yard doing other major work.
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2021
  8. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    You cannot tell the difference with the CAT paint. That is also how CAT paints them. It flows perfectly and is impervious to oil and grease, wipes right off. Looks a hell of a lot better than brushed Awlgrip. I cursed the guy who painted a set of MTU's pearl white. Instead of a few small touch ups, the entire motors had to be repainted.
  9. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    $4,500 is less than I expected. Not bad. I agree that the rattle can is a quick fix, but it's also $10 instead of $4,500. I don't agree that it shows lack of respect for the engine room. More that the owner wants things nice but respects his budget. Beats pealing paint. I think it's a difference between the show place engine rooms you find on bigger yachts and the all business engine rooms on smaller ones. I definitely prefer spray to brushstrokes except for tight area touchups. Degreasing, masking and covering is the biggest part of the job. There's no way around that. Shortcut there and you'd surely regret it. One thing I really hate is when people fail to mask hoses and wires properly. The overspray looks schlock. Also make sure the paint used is Hi-temp for motors or it just won't last. Does Awlgip even make Hi-temp paint?
  10. BRyachts

    BRyachts Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2006
    Messages:
    122
    Location:
    Ft Lauderdale
    Cat does NOT use rattle cans to paint their engines! They use a proper painting process, pro spray guns.
    A good guy can lay Awlgrip on smaller or multi contoured surfaces indistinguishable from spay.
  11. BRyachts

    BRyachts Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2006
    Messages:
    122
    Location:
    Ft Lauderdale
    The major portion of engines/trans are at less than 200 F, Awlgrip holds up fine. The turbo runners and aftercoolers will yellow due to higher temps, which is why I said we often use BBQ black in those hi-temp areas.
    Some engine designs have small sections of exhaust exposed between the head and manifold, obviously that paint burns off, nothing short of ceramic coating will hold up to 900-950 F.
  12. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2008
    Messages:
    2,111
    Location:
    Sardinia
    It would be funny if they would, at manufacturing level.
    Industrial paint booths are not only better, but ultimately also more efficient (hence LESS expensive) than rattle cans.

    On the other hand, if they think that rattle cans should "never, ever, ever" be used, why do they sell them?
    And why do each and every official dealers I came across use them?
    I still have the part # for the yellow engines in my old boat: CAT458-9587.
  13. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    They have the cans for touch up, and I guess some DIY people paint their entire motors with them but I'd be real surprised to see a professional pull them out to paint 2 entire motors.
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    The paint is made by Valspar and very similar to what CAT uses to paint them. It holds up perfectly and looks great.
  15. BRyachts

    BRyachts Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2006
    Messages:
    122
    Location:
    Ft Lauderdale
    It's one thing to touch up a chip in a valve cover, or a couple of bolt heads after some service work, it's another thing entirely to do a complete repaint that has a major effect on the resale value of the boat.
  16. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    I use Lowe's / Valspar paint in my house, but my walls don't live a life going from 50* to 200*+ nor deal with salt water. I'm not a professional painter like BR but I'd be looking at hi-temp paints, and definitely wouldn't expect a professional to paint 2 whole motors with spray cans or brushes.
  17. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I'm speaking about the CAT branded cans of touch up paint. Many times, setting up everything to spray engines in an engine room is a massive process and lots of overspray to deal with, that you just can't avoid getting on something due to the sheer volume of paint in the air. I grew up working in my fathers body shop where we did frame off restorations of early corvettes, among normal body shop repaints and such. So I know my way around a spray gun as well. I can also repaint engines with the CAT spray cans to where it looks exactly factory with virtually no overspray on hoses, harnesses etc. But to each his own. CAT also sells it in the quart cans to use in a spray gun as well, it is very high quality paint. A lot of people use the spray cans to touch up aircraft as well, (it flows perfectly, covers perfectly, and lays down with virtually no orange peel) throughout the airplane industry. Valspar is one of the most highly regarded automotive paints these days.
  18. CaboFly

    CaboFly Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2018
    Messages:
    256
    Location:
    Seattle
    This is what I use as recommended to me by my MAN dealer. Been very happy with it thus far on touch ups and keeping engines looking fresh.

    20171019_170753.jpg
  19. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2017
    Messages:
    1,149
    Location:
    Florida
    Don't like painted hoses and wiring. Had my boat detailer detail the er and repaint engines as needed 2 1/2 years ago. He cleaned everything first, mostly areas and bolts marred by tools, then sprayed Cat rattle can paint in small containers and hand painted with throw away brushes. Still looks good and no over spray, saved a lot of time not having to protect all hoses and fittings. Cat 3406's have a lot of small fuel hoses, sensors, and wiring to work around that I did not want painted. It is tedious work, he spent about 4 days total time. Cost was around $2000.
  20. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    I like Rust-oleum products, but I'm not sure that's the best product for this application. "
    Product description
    Color:Limited edition

    Rust-Oleum Specialty Appliance Epoxy is an ultra-hard, moisture resistance enamel that is specifically formulated for indoor metal surfaces. It provides a smooth, washable surface for refinishing the exterior of appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, laundry machines, and other indoor metal applications (cabinets, tables). Do not use on objects exposed to heat (stovetops, oven interiors, etc)