Bottom Paint

[Boomvang]

After three years in the water I pulled my 34' O'day. The bottom had no hard growth, but the prop and shaft had considerable as a result of the ablative paint being worn off. I will repaint the bottom again with an ablative,but it seems to me that painting the prop and shaft with a hard antifouling paint instead of the ablative would make sense, but I never hear of anyone doing that. Any thoughts?

 

[Warren Milberg]

I would suggest you use Petit Zinc Coat Barnacle spray on your prop and shaft. I put on 3 coats and have had good luck keeping the hard growth off.
http://www.boatersland.com/pet1792.html?gclid=CKDplYzgrLYCFQyg4AodjAEA7Q

 

[Rich Stidger]

I second Warren's suggestion on using the Pettit Zinc Coat. It's not perfect in my area but it is as good as anything else I've used regardless of price. You can buy the Pettit product for about $17-20 (except at WM where you get to pay $30) or you can take yourself down to your local Ace Hardware and buy one of the various brands of "Cold Galvanize" in a spray can. The label reads pretty much identical to the Pettit and after using it last year I can attest that it works exactly the same. Price at Ace - under $7.

One can will do your prop each Spring for 2 years.

 

[Gunni]

Well...I tried the cheap stuff - CRC Instant Galvanize and after one year in service it just left my prop pock-marked with spots where the "zinc" was torn away by attached barnacles, surrounded by areas of zinc that was harder than any hard-growth I have ever encountered. Took me hours to sand it off.

So this year I bought the Pettit Zinc Coat Barnacle miracle spray at the WM price and we shall see. If it was not for the joys of a growth-free prop I would not bother. I plan to dive on the prop and observe the growth.

 

[navigator97]

I have used the Pettit Barnicle Barrier spray for 3 seasons now with very good results. You do have to get the shaft and prop very clean first. I use a very fine emmory paper with some mineral spirits, and then wipe clean with a cloth and mineral spirits and let it dry. I plan to do it again this spring.

 

[Boomvang]

I second Warren's suggestion on using the Pettit Zinc Coat. It's not perfect in my area but it is as good as anything else I've used regardless of price. You can buy the Pettit product for about $17-20 (except at WM where you get to pay $30) or you can take yourself down to your local Ace Hardware and buy one of the various brands of "Cold Galvanize" in a spray can. The label reads pretty much identical to the Pettit and after using it last year I can attest that it works exactly the same. Price at Ace - under $7.

One can will do your prop each Spring for 2 years.

Thanks, I will check it out. I was hoping to find something that would last as long as the bottom paint so I wouldn't have to pull the boat every year.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Thanks, I will check it out. I was hoping to find something that would last as long as the bottom paint so I wouldn't have to pull the boat every year.

I don't think that the Pettit zinc coat or the cold galvanize that I use will last more than one year. Pettit doesn't make any claim to that effect. In fact, I don't know of any running gear anti-fouling that will last for multiple seasons.

If anyone knows of a product that will really work and last for more than a year, please tell me.

PropSpeed costs several hundred dollars to apply and originally I think they were claiming multiple year performance, but my observation at my boatyard is hit or miss. I have no idea if their multi-year claim is current.

BTW, I have tried the top-of-the-line Pettit hard anti-fouling paint and found that it came off and pitted in a year and generally didn't work any better than the zinc coating. But it was a lot more expensive and a lot more work to apply. YMMV.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Boom,

Alas another bottom paint thread, with the final solution for all areas still not in sight.
Maybe the next generation of bottom coatings will work better.

Different areas have different problems with types of paint to use.

I have used various "running gear" applications, and after $$$, in my area does not hold up.

I sail out of Madeira Beach on the left coast of Florida. No paint system works for me because I sail out a pass with sometimes up to a 4 kt. current. An outgoing tide has a large amount of sand etc. suspended in the water. Hence, each time I come & go, I have sand papering effects on my shaft & prop.

I have never had a system that lasted more than 6 months, so I've given up this practice. I use a scuba guy once a month & have had no troubles.

Not being familiar with your area, could it be that there is sand suspended in your water, & maybe the culprit?

CR

 

[splax]

I bought zinc paint from the auto parts store for the prop, shaft, and skeg. I'll see how it goes.