Painting outboard gearbox

[alt]

I painted my out-drives last year with a 2-pack paint and i'm happy with it. It chips very easy but doesn't scratch.... that appears to be the thing with 2-pack (So I read).

My Mariner 40 2-stroke (black) gearbox is a bit tatty, just cosmetic over the years but there's some exposed metal so want to protect.

I'm planning on sanding down to metal and using an etch primer.

For top coat, would you just use a single-pack rattle can, or go the whole hog and use 2-pack in a spray gun?

I'm not too concerned about the cosmetics, I mainly want to protect the metal-work.

[Matt]

2 pack always, as long as you have proper air fed breathing gear to spray it.

[diver 1]

To be honest I've used this previously on outboard skegs and such like and found it performed really well, with little prep and no primer used. I sanded and degreased with some IPA and sprayed it straight on. It stayed on too within reason.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/simon...00ml-549772291

[paintman]

Haven't used the same aerosol as diver 1 but I do much the same, key sand, degrease & aerosol spray a gloss black topcoat on my Mercury gearbox & skeg.
Apply sufficient light coats to achieve good coverage.
Lasts fine.

I SMART repair cars professionally (semi-retired now but still do a lot of caravans for one company) so could do it all in 2k if I chose but the aerosol does such a good job it simply isn't worth the faff.