Ken, I have asked the folk at Arizona Powder Coating about doing the same type of work and coating the kick-up rudder cheek plates on my previous boat (S2 6.7) The resounding answer was - the material does not do well in a wet or submerged environment. Bummed me out cause I wanted to keep the large aluminum plates in clean and attractive shape. Powder coating as we generally know it is a thermo plastic coating that is sprayed on a part with electrostatic machinery and oven cured at 400 -500 degrees F +-. The coating is generally more durable than paint but is not 'impervious' as it is sometimes credited. Really good stuff (my mooring cleats and some light bases, brackets above the deck) are powder coated with no apparent concerns as of yet BUT I would not really recommend PC for the cleats again as the line when in load and at speed (dallying off the boat - poor seamanship here) the coating suffers from abrasion. I have had many parts on my old toy truck PC'ed (inner fender wells, running boards, bumper brackets, etc.) with great results-but I would suggest talking to one of the powder producers for an underwater application. If you have experience with an underwater application material I would love to hear about it for the exact purpose you state. My UGLY old CB would be sweet after fairing and coating. Please keep us advised. Good Luck, Take Care, Have Fun GO M-17 #316a
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