Suggestions Wanted: Fixing a DEEP scratch in the motor cowling

[Mark Hofman]

In July, when my parents were out here on vacation, I took my dad fishing in the boat. In a particularly shallow area of Lake Taneycomo, I tilted the outboard way up. Then I discovered that the metal hinges on the rear fishing seat will NOT clear the cowling as the seat spins.



I've got a particularly deep scratch (gouge, actually), about an inch long, in the top of my cowling. I don't want to have to take it to a body shop to be repainted. Does anyone have any suggestions for fixing this scratch? Can I just sand the scratch down and repaint with a gloss black, or will I have to have a special black paint? Is the paint enamel, or something else?



FYI - I do have an air compressor and an airbrush.

 

[Craig Roberts]

Mo...It's Mercury Phantom Black. Comes in a touch-up bottle or 12oz spray can. Try buffing it out first.



Craig

 

[Mark Hofman]

Craig:



I can see the bare metal of the cowling; its that deep.



Hey, by the way, two other things: Can you look up the information about my hull color? I would like to get that pint you told me about when I was up there, to touch up that scuff on the side of my boat.



HIN: US BUJ94124D101



I'm also curious to know what a new center bench seat will run me. I'm tearing mine up having to step on it to get onto the back deck.

 

[Craig Roberts]

OK Mark...Full seat $181.50, Seat bottom $116.77, Seat skin $44.66. The 12 oz spray is (GULP!) $52.22. OUCH!!! Of course, you get the special "MoFish" discount!



Craig

 

[Mark Hofman]

DAYAUMMMM!!!!!



I may try to repair the seat first, before ordering a new one that will just get torn up again.



I'm confused about the paint. Is that the Merc paint, or the Tracker hull color (silver/gold)? If the latter, can you order/ship it or would you recommend I go to my local dealer?

 

[Craig Roberts]

Sorry Mark, that's the "Star Silver" for the hull. Part # 62364. Try your dealer (Fishin Hole) first. I don't have any in stock, so I'd have to order it. The Merc paint is $6.65 for the 12 oz can.



Craig

 

[Steve Stinson]

I did the same thing the first time out in my new boat. My brother-in-law runs a body shop and brought over some compound and black paint and finished it out as good as new. I don't know how he did it, but any auto body shop would know how. It took him about 45 minutes and he used three or four compounds.