Marine growth on propellers

[Chuck Curtis]

I have had my boat in Western Mexico for the past four years (on the hard during summers). Until this past winter I have not had much of a problem with barnacles, etc., on my propeller and shaft. However, this past winter was spent mostly south of Puerto Vallarta and the fouling on propeller and shaft was awful! I rarely spent more than three or four days without motoring at least a few miles, so I was surprised at the growth.You folks with lots of experience in the tropics: are there effective ways of preventing this problem short of diving and scraping every couple of weeks?

 

[Bob]

Bottom Paint

Hi Chuck,I ask Interlux if I could apply Micron Extra to the prop and shaft and was told I needed to prime and paint the prop and shaft with a metal paint (used 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of paint). Applied 2 or 3 coats of Micron extra. Worked just fine. No loss of boat speed - I can sail to and from mooring = little engine hours except when cruising. No growth this past season. Important to have a solid barrier between the prop / shaft metal and bottom paint.Good Luck,Bob

 

[Chuck Curtis]

thanks to Bob

Thanks, Bob. I've been out of town for a few days so I'm just getting back to this. Might I ask what kind of primer and paint you used for the undercoat? No point in my fumbling around if you already have the answers!

 

[Dale I]

Interlux has a website...

...which covers a lot of information...but no substitute for reading the fine print on the back of a paint can. I applied the thinner-than-water primer to the shaft, prop & strut as per the instructions on the can....and we will see how effective it is for a base to the ablative top-coat on the next haul. I thought an interesting recommendation on the can involved holding the paint back an inch from the zinc on the prop.....(?) should be interesting to see the amount of growth/electrolysis on the shaft when the its time for zinc replace/haul-out. It seems that I recall reading about a boat that repaired a faulty shore cord ground and it ultimately resulted in less electrolysis, but much more fouling of metal... Did you have reliable shore power connections before?