Outboard Cowl Maintenance
Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner
- evinrude2stroke
- Posts: 812
- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:08 am
- Location: Mahopac, NY
Outboard Cowl Maintenance
Hey everyone, My cowl on my outboard is starting to look pretty dull. The Evinrude site says to apply wax to the cowl during normal maintenance. I'm afraid to say that I have never done this
.
While I was cleaning it up this weekend before it goes into the water I noticed how dull it's getting. does anyone have any recommendations to clean it up a bit?.......I was thinking some cleaner wax may do the trick. I'm afraid to try a compound as it may be to harsh. I'm a little rusty in the detailing field,...my days of waxing cars are long over 
Dave
2016 Manitou 20' w/ 90 E-Tec Pontoon Series
2016 Manitou 20' w/ 90 E-Tec Pontoon Series
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
Probable isnt the right stuff to use but I use 303 lol
If it aint broke your not having enough fun
James & Deb
1988 Riviera Cruiser 15 HP Mariner
05 Silverado Z 71 V8 5.3
James & Deb
1988 Riviera Cruiser 15 HP Mariner
05 Silverado Z 71 V8 5.3
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
Yes, you should replace it with one of those shiny black Mercury cowls! 
2012 Tahoe 24' Fish-n-Fun Tritoon, with Mercury 115 HP 4-Stroke
"Trine SS Cape" (Trying 2S Cape)
Add a battery: viewtopic.php?t=13546&p=105893#p105893
I'm not a liberal, but I play one on this site.
"Trine SS Cape" (Trying 2S Cape)
Add a battery: viewtopic.php?t=13546&p=105893#p105893
I'm not a liberal, but I play one on this site.
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
I would just use some sort of rubbing compound like Turtle Wax or something. The rubbing compound will remove the dead dull paint.
Kim and Steve
2003 Lowe Suncruiser Trinidad 222
2003 Yamaha 90hp 4-stroke
2008 Toyota Tundra 5.7
Spend most of our time on Lake Eufaula
2003 Lowe Suncruiser Trinidad 222
2003 Yamaha 90hp 4-stroke
2008 Toyota Tundra 5.7
Spend most of our time on Lake Eufaula
- STEVEBRENDA
- Posts: 906
- Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:08 am
- Location: Boat on Table Rock Lake, MO
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
We clean the hard water stains with vinegar. It take a couple of applications.
2014 Regency 254
Mercury 250L Verado
I'm not saying let's go kill all the stupid people.. I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out.
Mercury 250L Verado
I'm not saying let's go kill all the stupid people.. I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out.
- evinrude2stroke
- Posts: 812
- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:08 am
- Location: Mahopac, NY
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
....Ouch!!!BobG wrote:Yes, you should replace it with one of those shiny black Mercury cowls!
Dave
2016 Manitou 20' w/ 90 E-Tec Pontoon Series
2016 Manitou 20' w/ 90 E-Tec Pontoon Series
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
Try the local automotive parts store. Whatever you use, start with a very small space to view the results before tackling the whole cowling. I use Meguiar's Quick Wax on my Optimax cowling and it usually holds up for a good long time.
2011 Bennington 2575RCW w/ ESP
F225 Yamaha
F225 Yamaha
-
Bryden24shp
- Posts: 1873
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:28 am
- Location: Iowa/Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.
- Contact:
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
Yes... This is the best to remove the hard water spots! Then wax her up real good.. May smell like a salad afterwards, so eat before you do it!STEVEBRENDA wrote:We clean the hard water stains with vinegar. It take a couple of applications.
Owner-EzFender Boat Products
Members, visit your discount page at:
http://www.ezfender.com/PontoonForums-M ... -Page.html
Members, visit your discount page at:
http://www.ezfender.com/PontoonForums-M ... -Page.html
- lakerunner
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 4820
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:31 pm
- Location: Live in McAlester, Ok Boat on Tenkiller
- Contact:
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
I used Turtle Wax polishing/wax compound. E Tec cowl shines.
Loyd & Betty Meeks
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller
- HandymanHerb
- Site Admin
- Posts: 14336
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:57 pm
- Location: Orlando Fla
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
Seems like they don't like the sun, I know the one on my new to me Merc had to be repainted, so something with a uv block would help
In Memory of John 6x6 Larsen


- evinrude2stroke
- Posts: 812
- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:08 am
- Location: Mahopac, NY
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
Loyd- is yours dark blue or white?lakerunner wrote:I used Turtle Wax polishing/wax compound. E Tec cowl shines.
Thanks guys, I'm going to try a compound/cleaner wax...and then I'm going to keep up with it. Hopefully it will bring the shine back.
Dave
2016 Manitou 20' w/ 90 E-Tec Pontoon Series
2016 Manitou 20' w/ 90 E-Tec Pontoon Series
- lakerunner
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 4820
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:31 pm
- Location: Live in McAlester, Ok Boat on Tenkiller
- Contact:
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
evinrude2stroke wrote:Loyd- is yours dark blue or white?lakerunner wrote:I used Turtle Wax polishing/wax compound. E Tec cowl shines.
Thanks guys, I'm going to try a compound/cleaner wax...and then I'm going to keep up with it. Hopefully it will bring the shine back.
Dk blue
Loyd & Betty Meeks
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller
- evinrude2stroke
- Posts: 812
- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:08 am
- Location: Mahopac, NY
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
Yep, mine too. I like the looks of the white ones....maybe on my next toon!lakerunner wrote:evinrude2stroke wrote:Loyd- is yours dark blue or white?lakerunner wrote:I used Turtle Wax polishing/wax compound. E Tec cowl shines.
Dk blue
Dave
2016 Manitou 20' w/ 90 E-Tec Pontoon Series
2016 Manitou 20' w/ 90 E-Tec Pontoon Series
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
It occurs to me, that while the Admiral will not let me put an NHRA decal on the toon, maybe she WOULD allow a flame-job on the motor! 
2012 Tahoe 24' Fish-n-Fun Tritoon, with Mercury 115 HP 4-Stroke
"Trine SS Cape" (Trying 2S Cape)
Add a battery: viewtopic.php?t=13546&p=105893#p105893
I'm not a liberal, but I play one on this site.
"Trine SS Cape" (Trying 2S Cape)
Add a battery: viewtopic.php?t=13546&p=105893#p105893
I'm not a liberal, but I play one on this site.
Re: Outboard Cowl Maintenance
When you get finished buffing the dull paint, put some of the Mothers Synwax, or the Meguiars NXT wax on it. These both have UV blockers, and polymers in them to prevent fading.
I use both on my black silverado, and maroon traverse.
I use both on my black silverado, and maroon traverse.
"Nauti Weasel"
2005 Beachcomber Islander 26
2005 Beachcomber Islander 26
