Barnacles and folding props.

[Ed Schenck]

Are barnacles a problem with folding props? I recently had the boat hauled for the first time since being in salt water. It has been about thirteen months since leaving the Hudson river. I found the shaft and the prop covered with the dime to quarter sized critters. They are very hard shelled and very hard to remove. They also had jammed up both knot log paddle wheels.

The plan was to remove the temporarily installed 3-blade and reinstall my Flex-O-Fold 3-blade. Now I am wondering how long that prop will continue to work? It would be different if I used it regularly but the boat is twelve hours from home. Or maybe if there was a way to guarantee it stayed open while sitting so the critters could not get into the gear train.

I know that I see a lot of painted props and shafts but I don't think that I can paint the gears. I would appreciate your experiences. I will also send this to Flex-O-Fold.

 

[Allan R]

Try using

1792 Zinc Coat Barnacle Barrier by Petit, works well for me.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Petit 1792 Zinc Coat

Thanks for the tip Allan. I did see a spray can for outdrives at West Marine and it was $38.00!! I see a price of about $18. for the Petit. Certainly worth a try. I never did lubricate the prop and do not remember any instructions to do so. I have written to the company and will see what they recommend also. The Related Link does not mention grease. But it does say "Inner and outer hubs are cast Nickel/Aluminum Bronze (NIBRAL), high strength, corrosion resistance and 82% copper for anti-fouling;. . .". So maybe I shouldn't worry about it. I do know that it has real power, both forward and backward. Especially compared to the Michigan wheel.

 

[seadaddler]

Regular Cleaning

I guess it needs to be checked and cleaned by diving if this is possible.
I know when I first talked to Flex o Fold they said if I was not sure what pitch
was the right one for my boat that I could send the blades back for exchange as
long as it was not painted.
Well it was the right pitch and it is way better than the three blade fixed prop that the dealer installed when brand new,she reaches hull speed with lower RPM'S
so they must have installed the wrong prop for my model.
Let us know what Flex O Fold recommends for painting or keeping clean.
Nick

 

[Allan R]

Not sure about Flex O Fold being greaseable,

I have a VariProp on mine that is greaseable to keep the gears operating smoothly. I do it during pullout.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Response from Flex-O-Fold

Chuck Angle of Flex-O-Fold got right back to me with this:

"As far as barnacle growth is concerned, there is no complete solution that I am aware of. The key to limiting growth is the amount of copper in the material from which the prop is made. The majority of fixed blade props are made from manganese “bronze” which is 58% copper. The Flexofold is made from nickel/aluminum bronze which is 80% copper. Bottom paints are usually listed as 50 – 60% copper. Of those the Flexofold has superior resistance to growth.

The 3-blade Flexofold, when folded, has no gears exposed to barnacles. The cover plate also prevents a barnacle invasion among the gears.

The long and the short of it is that the Flexofold 3-blade propeller has the best protection available for both surface growth and gear fouling. It’s not perfect but it’s pretty good. If it were a problem, manufacturers like Swan, X-Yachts and Morris Yachts would not use Flexofold Propellers as standard equipment on many of their models."

I thought I owed him that last marketing paragraph for his support over the years. I did write back to ask if he thought there would be a problem with using the Petit Zinc treatment on the blades.

 

[Tim R.]

Unless you are in the water year round

This should not be an issue. My FOF prop is in the water from early may to Thanksgiving and it has never had any more than a little slime on it. Of course it gets used at least once a week.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Big difference Tim.

Ladylove use to sail once or twice a week in Lake Erie. And then spend five months on her cradle. Now she is in the water permanently and twelve hours away. This year I have sailed twice and motored twice in eight months.

But I will say that the WM anti-fouling seemed to work. I had some barnacles on the lower part of the keel but overall she was clean. I am having the yard do a good sanding of the modified-epoxy and switching to an ablative after all these years.

I cannot believe how hard these buggers are. And what a grip! As I noted elsewhere both paddlewheels were locked with tiny barnacles. Have no idea how to keep them out of there.

 

[Tim R.]

Intervention

Ed, you're email screams "help!". You must spend more time sailing or at least on your boat. If not, your soul will leave your body and you will end up in a desperate situation...a powerboat owner! ;-);-);-);-);-)

In fact, instead of being here arguing with us idiots, go sailing Now!

 

[Ed Schenck]

Not bad as it seems Tim.

I am the unfortunate owner of two sailboats. Had three but sold the C-22 last fall when I got tired of painting three bottoms every spring. I still sail weekly, just not on Ladylove. We'll race tonight the wind gods willing. I crew on an Ericson 23 mostly. Otherwise I am on my Highlander.

Eventually I will be reunited with Ladylove but only for the winter months in Florida. Now if I can just get her around to there.

 

[Tim R.]

Thank God

Maine Sail and I were ready to come kidnap you and take you sailing.

We will be crewing on a friend's Ericson 34 tonight. I reserve fall for racing OPB. Let somebody else do the driving. Frees up my hands for beer!

 

[seadaddler]

ED

When are your tentative plans for going to Florida and what part.
Nick

 

[Ed Schenck]

Geez, more problems.

The Sailcraft yard called today to say they had removed the fixed 3-blade as requested. With the rudder already off(see another post on that subject) he could see that the strut looked bent!! I did notice that the shaft was not centered very well in the stern tube(while digging out barnacles). But I think that I would have noticed a bent strut. Maybe it got pushed sideways and just bent the bolts. Funny thing is I was in there Saturday and checked those bolts. They were very tight. What next?!!

Nick, we have a place in New Port Richey. I sail down in Tampa Bay with the "other Ed" you see around here. He also has an H37C. I did find an affordable slip in Port Richey but would prefer the bay I think. I like your area a lot but too far to drive. My daughter used to live in Sarasota so I am pretty familiar with the area from Naples north.

 

[seadaddler]

Florida

Are you going to sail to west coast of Florida from NC.
Nick