Clean your prop!!!!

[p323ms]

Over the past few months I've noticed that our speed under power was decreasing. Without looking I assumed that the bottom was getting dirty. This weekend I jumped overboard and found that the bottom looked pretty good but there were barnacles on the prop. A few minutes with the dive knife cleaned up the prop pretty well. It made a big difference, more than I would have ever imagined. At 1500 rpm our speed was about 4.5 knots. After scraping off the barnacles it is now about 5.5 knots!!!! I will be scrapping regularly at least until the water gets cold.

 

[billnalice]

Prop anti-fouling

Been there, done that. It is a good excuse to jump in the water with a knife and impress the women folk. ;-)Standard anti-fouling paints will not "stick" to props and prop shafts without a little help.I have used the following with great success:1. With the boat "on the hard" clean the prop and prop shaft down to bare metal.2. Apply Interlux 353 viny-lux primewash base as per instructions. 1 can lasts about 30 years.3. Apply your favorite anti-fouling paint.Bill Roosa

 

[Bill35]

Related question--what do you use on the bottom (+

for light growth--is the preferred solution to haul and power wash, or can you use a scrub brush and do it while the boat's in the water? Thanks..Bill

 

[Calif. Ted]

A diver, I pay $37.80 to clean every month,

they use a 3M scotchbrite type pad. My wife gave permission for me to get latest boat only with understanding that I was too old to dive on the boat myself. This way it never gets too bad and a light rub keeps things clean & bottom stays real nice. You can free dive using snorkel, tough part is lower keel and holding yourself in place, suction cup handle to stick on hull helps. Best done with tank on dock and long hose. It's a job that gets old real fast, my diver does a real good job, inspects cutlass etc. and changes zinc every 6 months, think about it, I've decided it's worth paying someone else to do.