<<zinc chromate is still availible in marine stores is a spray can for
easy use. Not cheap (about $10.00 a can) but it sure is good stuff.>>

I was just down at the marine supply place on my lunch break and they do
indeed have "Zinc Chromate primer" - several brands, in fact, spray and
brush-on - and all specify that they are for use on non-ferrous metals only.

They did have a catalyzed "etching primer" available for use on ferrous
metals - Petit #6455 Metal Primer - which does contain a high percentage of
zinc chromate though it isn't labeled as "Zinc Chromate Primer". I asked for
advice and the #6455 was what was recommended, followed by a coat of epoxy
primer. The shop's been in business for over 100 years, so I'd tend to take
some stock in their advice. The whole affair - etching & epoxy primer - is
available in a kit - Petit #6456 Underwater Metal Kit - with 1 pt. of
etching primer, catalyst and 2 pt.. of epoxy primer - for $32.

I bought the kit, but it'll be years before I can tell you whether it
actually works, so all of the above is just a report, not an endorsement.

Doug Fitz-Randolph
Yarmouth, ME
dfrandolph@talkam.net
'90 Syncro