Anhydrous Lanolin
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Ted
Do you apply it when the boat is in the water or hauled? Could it be applied in the water?
How long do you get antifouling properties from anhydrous lanolin? Does it matter if you use the engine often?
We're cruisers and it would be neat oh peachy keen, if the anhydrous lanolin was our solution to running gear fouling.
I've always used anhydrous lanolin to lubricate turnbuckles, never thought to use it as antifouling.
Do you apply it when the boat is in the water or hauled? Could it be applied in the water?
How long do you get antifouling properties from anhydrous lanolin? Does it matter if you use the engine often?
We're cruisers and it would be neat oh peachy keen, if the anhydrous lanolin was our solution to running gear fouling.
I've always used anhydrous lanolin to lubricate turnbuckles, never thought to use it as antifouling.
I would say any solvent that doesn't mix with water should work. Try paint thinner, turpentine, or lacquer thinner.
But more importantly, does anhydrous lanolin really work ? ? ? ? Over the years I've slathered on most every conceivable concoction on the shaft and prop and they still come up covered in all manner of growth. And not a trace of the gunk I'd previously applied.
Ted, please supply more details such as running hours, appearance after one year, and anything else you can suggest. Never tried it before but just might try it next year.
But more importantly, does anhydrous lanolin really work ? ? ? ? Over the years I've slathered on most every conceivable concoction on the shaft and prop and they still come up covered in all manner of growth. And not a trace of the gunk I'd previously applied.
Ted, please supply more details such as running hours, appearance after one year, and anything else you can suggest. Never tried it before but just might try it next year.
Anhydrous lanolin is just a lipid/fat produced by the sebaceous glands of sheep ... its just an animal 'grease'.
Paint thinner, stoddard solvent (auto mechanics general solvent), simple kerosene or #2 oil or even gasoline will dissolve it. However, the best way of removal is to do 'aliquot' washings - wash the surface by at least three or more 'washings' of solvent using the minimum amount of solvent each time. You will remove for instance 90% of the grease per washing ... and what remains becomes very small (exponentially approaches zero) very quickly with each successive washing.
In all reality there is really no need to remove 'all' of it, as rancid lanolin still is 'grease', just casually wipe off the surface as best you can and then spread on new.
;-)
Paint thinner, stoddard solvent (auto mechanics general solvent), simple kerosene or #2 oil or even gasoline will dissolve it. However, the best way of removal is to do 'aliquot' washings - wash the surface by at least three or more 'washings' of solvent using the minimum amount of solvent each time. You will remove for instance 90% of the grease per washing ... and what remains becomes very small (exponentially approaches zero) very quickly with each successive washing.
In all reality there is really no need to remove 'all' of it, as rancid lanolin still is 'grease', just casually wipe off the surface as best you can and then spread on new.
;-)
I've been using anhydrous lanolin for 13 years here in New York. Typically, my boat is in the water from mid May through early November. I do not do a lot of motoring therefore my results may be better than those of you who do. I apply the anhydrous lanolin by first preheating my prop shaft and prop with a heat gun. Then I heat the anhydrous lanolin to a liquid state and brush it on to the surfaces that were were just pre heated. Once heated, the anhydrous lanolin will be very thin and you can paint it on your prop very easily with a brush. The anti-fowling results are not perfect but it's better than most things I've tried so far. I only get a few barnacles during the season. There are different types of anhydrous lanolin and some work better then others. You would want to use something with a very dense consistency somewhat like a refrigerated stick of butter.
I would be interested to know what different types of anhydrous lanolin you've found. I actually import and distribute lanolin from South America and only know of USP and technical grades, which are essentially the same. USP just has more of the pesticide residue removed.
There are also lanolin wax, lanolin oil, ethoxylated lanolin and a huge range of lanolin compounds but other than higher or lower qualities don't know of different types of anhydrous lanolin.
There are also lanolin wax, lanolin oil, ethoxylated lanolin and a huge range of lanolin compounds but other than higher or lower qualities don't know of different types of anhydrous lanolin.
I can sell you a 55 gallon drum, 419 lbs net wt for $8.00/lb FOB our warehouse in Atlanta. But that might be more than you and all your friends, neighbors and relatives would use in several lifetimes.
If you want something a little smaller it is all over the internet if you google anhydrous lanolin. I found 2 oz cans on Amazon for $8.90 or a bit over $70.00/lb. Obviously I've got a better deal.
You can get it at Defender Marine for like $25 - $30. Enough to paint your prop and shaft for 10 years. I just tried it this season. The boat was launched in May (Long Island). I just checked it 2 weeks ago and there was only light grassy stuff. I'd say so far so good!
Lanocote is mostly lanolin, 85% according to the MSDS. 10% aliphatic petroleum distillates (?) and 5% non-haz ingredients.
A guy at the key west west marine store claims that lanolin should be slaved onto a replacement head joker valve to keep it soft and pliable. After a long search, I found lanolin in a pharmacy. It was packaged for breast feeding mothers, as CalebD said. The jury is still out on how well it works, on the joker valve that is.
The reason for my original post was because I wanted to remove Lanocoat which is mostly lanolin. For the first time, I used Lanocoat instead of plain anhydrous lanolin on my prop. The boat was in the water for a week when I pulled it to do some repairs. Most of the Lanocoat was gone already. I wouldn't be using it again and just want to remove whatever is left and start fresh.
Skipmac, I ordered my first tub of anhydrous lanolin from my pharmacist 13 years ago. When it was all gone, I ordered another tub from the same pharmacist however the new product did not work very well. Both tubs were marked anhydrous lanolin but one was much less dense than the other. They came from different manufacturers. I don't know why they performed so differently.
Have used anhydrous lanolin for years with good results. I buy it at CVS drugstores, see the pharmacist and they will order it for you , about 2 bucks a tube. Use a soft wire wheel on a battery drill to clean the prop and shaft. then apply a coat with your finger a day or two prior to launching, covering prop and shaft completley. We just hauled for Sandy and there was only about 5 barnacles total
Is "Liquid Film Liquid A" about the same thing as "anhydrous lanolin" except that it mixes with water ?
http://www.fluid-film.com/products/marine.html
http://www.theruststore.com/Fluid-Fi...A-P198C67.aspx
http://www.fluid-film.com/products/marine.html
http://www.theruststore.com/Fluid-Fi...A-P198C67.aspx
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