Folding props seem like a good idea and all but how do they cope with fouling? Here in se Georgia my prop gets totlly crusted in less than a month during the summer. Sure its no big deal to scrape it but its hard to get everything, espically the the little lumps that remain after the inital scrape. It just doesn't seen like a folding prop would cope with this very well. Any input?
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Unrelated issue
Folding prop has nothing to do with fouling, just speed. Suggest you have a diver clean the bottom every month, as we do up in Virginia. Best $25 I spend during the season.
Folding prop has nothing to do with fouling, just speed. Suggest you have a diver clean the bottom every month, as we do up in Virginia. Best $25 I spend during the season.
I mean
do the props themselves run into problems with functionality early on with accumulation of barnicles (do they stick, ect with minor fouling) I do the scraping myself, no big deal...I was just concerned about not being able to remove barnicles from the additional nooks, crannies, and innerworkings of the folding props.
do the props themselves run into problems with functionality early on with accumulation of barnicles (do they stick, ect with minor fouling) I do the scraping myself, no big deal...I was just concerned about not being able to remove barnicles from the additional nooks, crannies, and innerworkings of the folding props.
Mine Seems To Be Tolerant
Altho I have a diver, I checked it recently and it had some fouling. Mine is a geared two blade folder. No problems with it opening nor closing. I have many friends with them, and have not heard of it being an issue. I think some cleaning in greater fouling conditions is probably wise. Rick D.
Altho I have a diver, I checked it recently and it had some fouling. Mine is a geared two blade folder. No problems with it opening nor closing. I have many friends with them, and have not heard of it being an issue. I think some cleaning in greater fouling conditions is probably wise. Rick D.
Geared folding props are ..
more tolerant than non-geared ones such as auto-prop where a barnacle in one blade can affect its un-folding and send the prop out of balance. I have used in my geared 3-blade Gori the prop and drive paint spray sold in WM with good results. In my last dive I found lots of stuff elsewhere but the prop was still clean. Granted, Marblehead waters probably won't grow as much stuff as those in Georgia.
more tolerant than non-geared ones such as auto-prop where a barnacle in one blade can affect its un-folding and send the prop out of balance. I have used in my geared 3-blade Gori the prop and drive paint spray sold in WM with good results. In my last dive I found lots of stuff elsewhere but the prop was still clean. Granted, Marblehead waters probably won't grow as much stuff as those in Georgia.
growth on folding props
We haven't had any problems with our autoprop-same waters as Jose-but even a geared prop will suffer from turbulence if it's got barnacles on it and lose a lot of efficiency
We haven't had any problems with our autoprop-same waters as Jose-but even a geared prop will suffer from turbulence if it's got barnacles on it and lose a lot of efficiency
Hey, Jose V...
I was thinking about doing the same thing, using OB spray on the prop. As you know, there are two very different schools of thought on painting of shafts and props. Assuming electrolysis isn't an issue, I'm inclined to do just what you did when I do a short haul to have the prop repitched. I don't think my diver works very hard to keep the shaft and prop clean. Rick D.
I was thinking about doing the same thing, using OB spray on the prop. As you know, there are two very different schools of thought on painting of shafts and props. Assuming electrolysis isn't an issue, I'm inclined to do just what you did when I do a short haul to have the prop repitched. I don't think my diver works very hard to keep the shaft and prop clean. Rick D.
Rick, to avoid electrolisis
I make sure I keep the zinc clean of paint. I also protect the gears and areas that rub against each other while I spray the paint and I have not painted the short segment of stainless shaft between the cutlass bearing and the prop.
I make sure I keep the zinc clean of paint. I also protect the gears and areas that rub against each other while I spray the paint and I have not painted the short segment of stainless shaft between the cutlass bearing and the prop.
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