Naked Prop?

[Bad Obsession]

How do you prepair your prop for the season. Do you paint it, do you just keep it cleaned out and just dive and scrape it during the season, or do you have another method of keeping it clean? I have been cleaning mine off and keeping it clean by diving on the boat during the season. That is okay during June but when the jellyfish come in it is a pain, litterly. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[MoonSailer]

Epoxy paint then antifouling paint

It seems that zincs affect copper based antifouling paint. A dockmate had his prop epoxy painted and then painted with hard antifouling paint. He said that he hasn't had any growth for a couple of years. He also painted his propshaft. The epoxy acts like an electrical insulator and helps the antifouling paint stick to the metal. I tried regular antifouling paint with poor results and I am now in freshwater so I haven't tried the epoxy yet.

 

[RichH]

Petit - Zinc Coat Barnacle Barrier

Am on the Upper Chesapeake with lots of slime and HEAVY barnacles. With this product I only picked up 3 barnacles instead of the usual 'barnacle ball' every month. Just spray on 2 coats - thats it.

 

[John T1594]

Prime it!

Moonsailer has it right. Almost any good primer that keeps the copper bottom paint away from the metal of the shaft and prop will work well. I use two coats of Interlux barrier coat and then a good coat of hard expoxy bottom paint and never have more than one or two barnacles over a six month season. Using the boat often also helps.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Another vote for Pettit Zinc Coat

I think I have tried almost everything. Many different kinds of anti fouling, underwater metal primer then anti fouling, Interlux spray coating, etc.Primer and anti fouling is labor intensive to apply (lots of coats) and at the end of the season I still have barnacles and the paint is worn/chipped off so that complete removal is required. Removal is a lot of work also.The Interlux spray is not only expensive- $30, but I think it is really made out of barnacle food. Doesn't work for me.Last year I tried the Pettit Zinc coating. It worked better (not perfect, but better) than anything else I've tried. Costs is $15/can and needs two thin coats. One can will probably last me 2-3 years. This fall I had some barnacles but not as bad as other years.I'm in Narragansett Bay and conditions do vary from year to year. As they say, "Your mileage may vary..."