Polishing or Waxing Black Mercury Engine Cowling

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Polishing or Waxing Black Mercury Engine Cowling

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Polishing or Waxing Black Mercury Engine Cowling

K Albus posted 07-29-2009 09:09 AM ET (US)
I have a 2002 Optimax 135 with a black cowling which has large decals on the sides. The top of the cowling has some streaks in the finish which do not go away with normal washing. (The streaks go in a straight line from front to back and appear to be caused hitting bugs or other airborne debris while traveling down the highway.)
The maintenance instructions in owner's manual for the motor indicate that the cowling should only be washed with soap and water and waxed with non-abrasive wax such as automotive wax for clear coat finishes. In the past I have washed the cowling and waxed it with Collinite Boat Wax No. 925, but this alone is not effective in removing the streaks.
Can anybody provide some direction as to how I can remove the streaks? Can I use a polish or wax with very mild abrasives such as 3M Finesse It II? Do automotive waxes for clear coat finishes contain any abrasives? Will a wax or polish with mild abrasives damage the decals on the cowling?
Please note that I have a Porter Cable 7424 random orbital polisher, and by no means do I consider myself any kind of expert at waxing or polishing.
L H G posted 07-29-2009 10:25 AM ET (US)
Finesse-it is too strong for automotive finishes like an engine. My secret is "KIT" Scratch-Out, in yellow bottle, in any auto store, which is formulated for clear coat.
Works beautifully, with a mirror gloss shine. Then you can use pure wax over that.
K Albus posted 07-29-2009 10:31 AM ET (US)
Thanks, Larry. I'll give it a try.
Jeff posted 07-29-2009 10:35 AM ET (US)
Also, Meguires Scratch X works well and you can find it at any Murry's around here.
K Albus posted 07-29-2009 10:46 AM ET (US)
This website is great. I was hoping to get replies from Larry and Jeff, and they both responded in less than an hour. Now we just need an un-witty response from Binkie and a cryptic poem from Ritzyrags and the thread will be complete.
R T M posted 07-29-2009 01:27 PM ET (US)
Actually I was going to say that I use Mother`s Clay Bar to lift bugs, streaks, and any crap like smog particles that gets inbedded into the paint of my car, then wax with automotive wax.
rich/Binkie
K Albus posted 07-29-2009 01:55 PM ET (US)
Rich, thanks for the reply. I was just yanking your chain about the un-witty response. Please don't send your New Jersey friends after me.
I already bought the Kit Scratch Out based on Larry's recommendation. I followed Larry's recommendation over Jeff's because the Kit product cost half as much as the Meguiar's Scratch X. I'll give it try and report my results.
Tohsgib posted 07-29-2009 02:07 PM ET (US)
I had a 60hp 1995 Merc and it was pretty faded but decals were good(I KNOW) so I tried wax, then compound, then buffer, WD-40...nuttin! I then realized the darn cowl did not have paint it was impregnated plastic or ???. I could have taped and painted but I used this stuff called Gator Spit. Made to restore plastics on motorcycles and ATV's($6 at any dealer)...looked like new, until ya washed it a few times but what the hey. So for anyone with plastic or ?? merc cowl that WD-40 won't even make shine, try some Spit, literally.
BBS posted 07-29-2009 03:11 PM ET (US)
What? No replies about waxing my Johnson?
K Albus posted 07-29-2009 03:30 PM ET (US)
That's probably because most of the Johnsons that are still around are small Johnsons.
macfam posted 07-29-2009 03:36 PM ET (US)
Meguires Paint Cleaner in the red plastic bottle is also an excellent option before using Collinite paste wax.
It removes imbedded dirt and streaks and was recommended by the staff at Collnite.
glen e posted 07-29-2009 06:29 PM ET (US)
1. dawn dish washing detergent - then towel dry
2. wipe down with mineral spirits
3. repeat step 1
4. wax
works on 90% of the waxed-over stains - also try to wipe down with vinegar. Works on every Merc cowl and tested for several years. RejeX works very well for cowls - 2 coats, 12 hours apart.
K Albus posted 07-31-2009 08:29 PM ET (US)
Well, I started with Glen's routine, and then I moved on Larry's routine. Wash with Dawn; wipe with mineral spirits; wash with Dawn; polish with Kit Scratch Off; polish again with Kit Scratch Off; wax with Collinite Boat Wax No. 925.
Most of the cowling looks brand new. Unfortunately, there were a few spots on the lower cowling that needed some more work, but I didn't see them until after I waxed. Oh, well. It will have to wait until next year.
Anyway, thanks for the advice, guys. I now know what needs to be done next year to make the entire motor look like brand new. (Except, of course, for the so-called "foil appendage" which will be retained.)
jimh posted 08-02-2009 12:37 AM ET (US)
I have seen Kevin's Mercury cowling. It looked brand-new before he started!

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Polishing or Waxing Black Mercury Engine Cowling
K Albus	posted 07-29-2009 09:09 AM ET (US) I have a 2002 Optimax 135 with a black cowling which has large decals on the sides. The top of the cowling has some streaks in the finish which do not go away with normal washing. (The streaks go in a straight line from front to back and appear to be caused hitting bugs or other airborne debris while traveling down the highway.) The maintenance instructions in owner's manual for the motor indicate that the cowling should only be washed with soap and water and waxed with non-abrasive wax such as automotive wax for clear coat finishes. In the past I have washed the cowling and waxed it with Collinite Boat Wax No. 925, but this alone is not effective in removing the streaks. Can anybody provide some direction as to how I can remove the streaks? Can I use a polish or wax with very mild abrasives such as 3M Finesse It II? Do automotive waxes for clear coat finishes contain any abrasives? Will a wax or polish with mild abrasives damage the decals on the cowling? Please note that I have a Porter Cable 7424 random orbital polisher, and by no means do I consider myself any kind of expert at waxing or polishing.
L H G	posted 07-29-2009 10:25 AM ET (US) Finesse-it is too strong for automotive finishes like an engine. My secret is "KIT" Scratch-Out, in yellow bottle, in any auto store, which is formulated for clear coat. Works beautifully, with a mirror gloss shine. Then you can use pure wax over that.
K Albus	posted 07-29-2009 10:31 AM ET (US) Thanks, Larry. I'll give it a try.
Jeff	posted 07-29-2009 10:35 AM ET (US) Also, Meguires Scratch X works well and you can find it at any Murry's around here.
K Albus	posted 07-29-2009 10:46 AM ET (US) This website is great. I was hoping to get replies from Larry and Jeff, and they both responded in less than an hour. Now we just need an un-witty response from Binkie and a cryptic poem from Ritzyrags and the thread will be complete.
R T M	posted 07-29-2009 01:27 PM ET (US) Actually I was going to say that I use Mother`s Clay Bar to lift bugs, streaks, and any crap like smog particles that gets inbedded into the paint of my car, then wax with automotive wax. rich/Binkie
K Albus	posted 07-29-2009 01:55 PM ET (US) Rich, thanks for the reply. I was just yanking your chain about the un-witty response. Please don't send your New Jersey friends after me. I already bought the Kit Scratch Out based on Larry's recommendation. I followed Larry's recommendation over Jeff's because the Kit product cost half as much as the Meguiar's Scratch X. I'll give it try and report my results.
Tohsgib	posted 07-29-2009 02:07 PM ET (US) I had a 60hp 1995 Merc and it was pretty faded but decals were good(I KNOW) so I tried wax, then compound, then buffer, WD-40...nuttin! I then realized the darn cowl did not have paint it was impregnated plastic or ???. I could have taped and painted but I used this stuff called Gator Spit. Made to restore plastics on motorcycles and ATV's($6 at any dealer)...looked like new, until ya washed it a few times but what the hey. So for anyone with plastic or ?? merc cowl that WD-40 won't even make shine, try some Spit, literally.
BBS	posted 07-29-2009 03:11 PM ET (US) What? No replies about waxing my Johnson?
K Albus	posted 07-29-2009 03:30 PM ET (US) That's probably because most of the Johnsons that are still around are small Johnsons.
macfam	posted 07-29-2009 03:36 PM ET (US) Meguires Paint Cleaner in the red plastic bottle is also an excellent option before using Collinite paste wax. It removes imbedded dirt and streaks and was recommended by the staff at Collnite.
glen e	posted 07-29-2009 06:29 PM ET (US) 1. dawn dish washing detergent - then towel dry 2. wipe down with mineral spirits 3. repeat step 1 4. wax works on 90% of the waxed-over stains - also try to wipe down with vinegar. Works on every Merc cowl and tested for several years. RejeX works very well for cowls - 2 coats, 12 hours apart.
K Albus	posted 07-31-2009 08:29 PM ET (US) Well, I started with Glen's routine, and then I moved on Larry's routine. Wash with Dawn; wipe with mineral spirits; wash with Dawn; polish with Kit Scratch Off; polish again with Kit Scratch Off; wax with Collinite Boat Wax No. 925. Most of the cowling looks brand new. Unfortunately, there were a few spots on the lower cowling that needed some more work, but I didn't see them until after I waxed. Oh, well. It will have to wait until next year. Anyway, thanks for the advice, guys. I now know what needs to be done next year to make the entire motor look like brand new. (Except, of course, for the so-called "foil appendage" which will be retained.)
jimh	posted 08-02-2009 12:37 AM ET (US) I have seen Kevin's Mercury cowling. It looked brand-new before he started!