Sea Foam White Motor Coater: The Engine Enamel Built for Lugger Marine Diesel Owners
KBS Coatings is adding Sea Foam White to the Motor Coater engine enamel lineup. This new color was developed directly from a customer request — a Nordhavn trawler owner who needed a safe, sprayable, heat-resistant paint for a Lugger marine diesel engine and couldn't find a practical solution anywhere else. If your Lugger engine is showing its age and you've been searching for the right white engine paint, here it is.
What Is Sea Foam White?
Sea Foam White is a light, neutral gloss white with a slightly warm undertone. It is color-matched to Moeller Marine Products Color Vision Sea Foam Gloss White #025109 — the product most commonly cited by marine mechanics and Lugger engine owners as the closest available match to the original Lugger factory engine color.
Like all Motor Coater diesel colors, Sea Foam White is available in quart size — the right amount for a complete diesel engine repaint. It carries the same ceramic resin formula as the rest of the Motor Coater line: rated to 500°F, self-leveling, and resistant to oil, fuel, and underhood fluids.
The Problem Lugger Engine Owners Have Been Facing
Lugger marine diesel engines — John Deere-based engines adapted for ocean use and sold under the Lugger brand — were finished from the factory in a distinctive light white. Over time, that color fades, chips, and discolors under the heat and chemical exposure of a working engine room. Owners of Nordhavn trawlers and other long-range passage-making vessels know how important it is to keep that engine room looking sharp, but finding the right paint has always been a challenge.
The original factory coating was a proprietary 2-part polyurethane (2K PUR). That's a highly durable product — but it presents a serious practical problem for anyone trying to apply it in the confined engine room of a trawler. Two-component polyurethane coatings contain isocyanates, which require air-supplied respiratory protection and rigorous containment during application. For most boat owners, and even many marine mechanics, applying 2K PUR in a trawler engine room is simply not a realistic option.
The result: Lugger owners have been left hunting for aerosol spray cans and aftermarket lacquers that sort of look right — but don't hold up to engine temperatures, resist oil and fuel, or provide the durable gloss finish a well-maintained engine room deserves.
Why Motor Coater Sea Foam White Is the Right Answer
Motor Coater is a single-component, high-solids acrylic enamel with a ceramic resin system. It was engineered for exactly this kind of job — a diesel engine repaint that needs to look professional, hold up under real-world conditions, and be practical to apply without a hazmat suit.
500°F Heat Resistance
Motor Coater handles intermittent temperatures up to 500°F without blistering, cracking, or peeling — more than enough headroom for a marine diesel engine block.
Oil, Fuel, and Fluid Resistance
The formula resists engine oil, diesel fuel, transmission fluid, and common bilge chemicals — the everyday hazards in any working marine engine room.
Safer to Apply Than 2K Urethane
Motor Coater is a 1K (single-component) enamel. It does not contain the isocyanates found in 2K polyurethane coatings. With adequate ventilation and an organic vapor respirator, it is practical to apply in a boat engine room. Always follow the product SDS and applicable safety regulations.
Self-Leveling Formula
Motor Coater's advanced resin system flows out brush marks for a smooth, spray-like finish — whether you brush or spray it. No stippling, no lap marks.
Direct-to-Metal Adhesion
On a properly prepared surface, Motor Coater bonds directly to ferrous and non-ferrous metals without a primer, saving time and layers on a complex engine block.
100% UV Stable
Motor Coater will not chalk, fade, or discolor in sunlight — relevant for any engine or power plant exposed to outdoor conditions.
How Much Do You Need?
A quart of Sea Foam White Motor Coater is typically enough to paint a complete diesel engine, including the block, head, and accessory components. Diesel colors in the Motor Coater line are available in quart size at $53.
For smaller touchup jobs — individual panels, brackets, or scuffed areas — less paint will do the job, but having a full quart on hand ensures you won't run short mid-project.
Surface Prep: The Key to a Lasting Finish
Engine paint bonds only as well as the surface beneath it. Skipping prep is the single most common reason paint jobs fail on diesel engines. Here is the process KBS recommends:
- Degrease with KBS Klean. Remove all oil, grease, silicone, and contamination. A clean surface is the foundation of adhesion.
- Etch and activate with RustBlast. RustBlast removes surface rust and chemically etches bare metal for maximum Motor Coater adhesion.
- Prime pitted or rust-prone areas with RustSeal Galvanized (optional). On heavily pitted or corroded surfaces, a coat of RustSeal Galvanized smooths the surface and seals any remaining rust before topcoating.
- Apply Sea Foam White Motor Coater. Brush, roll, or spray. Two coats are recommended for full color coverage and maximum durability.
The Motor Coater Kit includes KBS Klean, RustBlast, KBS #1 Thinner, gloves, a brush, stir stick, and detailed instructions — everything needed for a complete prep-and-paint system in one order.
Pro Tip: Motor Coater can be brushed on for precise coverage around engine accessories, or thinned with KBS #1 Thinner for use with a spray gun or Preval Sprayer. For engine room applications where overspray control matters, brushing or using a detail sprayer on the block is often the most practical approach.
Frequently Asked Questions — Sea Foam White Motor Coater
Lugger marine diesel engines were originally finished in a light, neutral gloss white — a proprietary 2K polyurethane color applied at the factory. Among marine mechanics and long-range trawler owners, Moeller Marine Products Color Vision Sea Foam Gloss White (#025109) is widely regarded as the closest available match to the original Lugger engine color. KBS Motor Coater Sea Foam White is matched to this reference.
Yes. Motor Coater Sea Foam White is a single-component, high-temp acrylic enamel rated to 500°F that resists oil, diesel fuel, and engine chemicals. It delivers a durable, high-gloss finish comparable to the factory appearance without the isocyanate hazards of 2K polyurethane coatings.
Applying 2K polyurethane in an enclosed boat engine room is not practical for most boat owners — the isocyanate content requires air-supplied respiratory protection and careful containment. Motor Coater is a 1K enamel. With adequate ventilation and a quality organic vapor respirator, it is practical to apply in a boat engine room. Always consult the product SDS and follow applicable safety regulations for your specific situation.
Motor Coater Sea Foam White is color-matched to Moeller Marine Products Color Vision Sea Foam Gloss White #025109, the product most commonly referenced by marine mechanics and Nordhavn trawler owners as the closest match to the original Lugger marine diesel engine color.
One quart of Motor Coater is typically enough to paint a complete diesel engine, including the block, head, and accessory covers. Sea Foam White is available in quart size at $53. For touchup work, less paint will usually suffice, but a full quart ensures you have enough for the entire engine without running short.
Yes. Motor Coater resists engine oil, diesel fuel, transmission fluid, and common bilge chemicals. It is rated for intermittent temperatures up to 500°F and is 100% UV stable — it will not chalk, fade, or discolor in sunlight. These properties make it suitable for marine diesel engines in both enclosed engine rooms and exposed outdoor power plant installations.
Proper prep is critical. Start by degreasing with KBS Klean to remove oil, grease, and silicone. Then apply RustBlast to etch and activate the metal surface. On pitted or rust-prone areas, apply a coat of RustSeal Galvanized as a barrier primer before topcoating. The Motor Coater Kit includes KBS Klean, RustBlast, KBS #1 Thinner, gloves, and a brush — everything needed for a complete prep-and-paint system.
Ready to Restore Your Lugger Engine?
Sea Foam White Motor Coater is available now. Pick up a quart for a complete diesel engine repaint, or grab the Motor Coater Kit for the full prep-and-paint system.
Questions? Call or text the KBS team: (219) 263-0073 | Text: (219) 531-7797
Tagged Products
