Antifouling Prop Paint

[Sumner]

About 8 years ago I split a kit of Prop Speed with another sailor. Both of us were disappointed in the performance in Bristol Harbor, Narragansett Bay, RI. Honestly the Pettit zinc coating performed just as well as the PropSpeed - and with a fraction of the application effort and 1/10 of the price. I now use spray on zinc cold galvanize from Ace Hardware. It works the same as the Pettit product at $8 for a larger can. I get 2-3 years application from a single can.

Thanks, I think I'll go this route at first. Is this the product from Ace?

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=52750556

Sumner
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1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

 

[Rich Stidger]

Thanks, I think I'll go this route at first. Is this the product from Ace?

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=52750556

I thought that the product was an Ace brand, but I can't find my can to check. I may have used it all last spring. This Rust-Oleum product is virtually identical to the Pettit zinc prop spray. Although I can't find the zinc % on the Pettit site, I remember that it was exactly the same amount. Rust-Oleum makes two spray products- this one you referenced 16oz and a "professional version" of 20oz. I would get the 16oz version because you can clear the nozzle upside-down. I put on three thin coats after wire-brushing the prop with a drill brush wheel. I wipe it down with acetone or the solvent listed on the can before coating.
It works well for me, YMMV. I always figure when I am trying something new, that if it doesn't work to my standards, I simply won't use it again. Of course the very best way to keep the prop clean is to motor every week for a short while.

 

[Solstice]

Solstice: I have some experience with Velox and it is not good! Heading to the boat in a few minutes but will post pictures and details later tonight.

Solstice, thanks for posting the before/after prop photos with Velox. What are the white pox marks on the after photo? Is it electrolysis of the zinc in the Velox coating or discoloration from barnacles that were removed from the prop? Was there any permanent damage to the bronze prop?

If Velox has a high zinc content, should it not be used on the aluminum sail drive. The sail drive manufacturer warns not to coat the drive with copper based antifouling bottom paint because of electrolysis corrosion potential of the aluminum.

Those are barnacle remnants...I took the Velox off with a wire brush on a drill and the primer was a bit difficult to remove, but no issues or damage electrolysis. Sorry I can’t speak to the Sail drive as I know you have to be careful given the aluminum.

 

[Solstice]

I have not used Propseed because of the poor reviews that I have read.

I clean the prop and strut to bright bronze and the shaft to bright stainless steel , then coat it with several coats of petit zinc rich primer (masking off areas of the shaft and strut for zincs). Then once it is dry, I coat the prop with Lanacote before splashing the boat. This approach works well in San Diego Bay and Puget Sound.

I do the same with Lanocote for the beginning of the season because like most it takes me a few weeks before my first sail and I find it helps keeping the prop clean while sitting in the slip as it wears away pretty fast once you use the boat...