I was at the yard today and noticed that several boats have the propellor and shafts painted. Many of the boats without paint on the shafts and props have barnacles and other marine growth. What's the positive or negative to painting them.
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Painting the shaft and prop
I don't paint my shaft or prop. I believe the copper in the bottom paint could react with the metal shaft and prop and cause corrosion or pitting, and weaken the metal. After a full season (salt water), I often have some barnicles forming, but they are easy to scrape off.
I don't paint my shaft or prop. I believe the copper in the bottom paint could react with the metal shaft and prop and cause corrosion or pitting, and weaken the metal. After a full season (salt water), I often have some barnicles forming, but they are easy to scrape off.
Special Paint Needed
Mike, I paint my shaft otherwise it gets completely overgrown with barnicles, mussels, you name it. Two things to keep in mind: 1. Don't paint over the area that your zincs are going to attach to. The zincs need an electrical connection to the prop shaft. 2. Use special paint. They make special paint intended for ouboard motors or outdrives on I/O powerboats. Use that. It's specially formulated for metal. Good Luck, Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull #632
Mike, I paint my shaft otherwise it gets completely overgrown with barnicles, mussels, you name it. Two things to keep in mind: 1. Don't paint over the area that your zincs are going to attach to. The zincs need an electrical connection to the prop shaft. 2. Use special paint. They make special paint intended for ouboard motors or outdrives on I/O powerboats. Use that. It's specially formulated for metal. Good Luck, Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull #632
Update...
I just went to West Marine yesterday to reconfirm my previous post & I was told I was wrong. Only aluminum is ok to paint. Stainless & other metals will begin to pit over time & they don't recommend painting anything but aluminum. Sorry for the bad advice!! --Allen
I just went to West Marine yesterday to reconfirm my previous post & I was told I was wrong. Only aluminum is ok to paint. Stainless & other metals will begin to pit over time & they don't recommend painting anything but aluminum. Sorry for the bad advice!! --Allen
Desitin Really Works
I know you wont believe this, but the stories are very true. Two years ago I replaced my prop with a new composite prop, but that's another story, and I had read here that sailors were using Desitin ointment on their running gear and tried it. Now, I've been in school and didn't have much time for the boat so needless to say, I haven't scrubbed the prop in a while. Three weeks ago I hauled out and only found a small sprinkle of baby barnicles. Three minutes of scrubbing with a scotch bright pad and the prop and shaft were CLEAN!!! This is after TWO YEARS. Of course I've put on a fresh coat... One other thing, for those who perform regular maint. The ointment can be applied in the water, no need to haul out. COOL
I know you wont believe this, but the stories are very true. Two years ago I replaced my prop with a new composite prop, but that's another story, and I had read here that sailors were using Desitin ointment on their running gear and tried it. Now, I've been in school and didn't have much time for the boat so needless to say, I haven't scrubbed the prop in a while. Three weeks ago I hauled out and only found a small sprinkle of baby barnicles. Three minutes of scrubbing with a scotch bright pad and the prop and shaft were CLEAN!!! This is after TWO YEARS. Of course I've put on a fresh coat... One other thing, for those who perform regular maint. The ointment can be applied in the water, no need to haul out. COOL
Prime under the copper paint
The best stuff to use (IMHO) was the tributyl tin-based outdrive spray paints. They were easy to use and always gave good performance but are now banned in all waters. This year I am going to try Interlux Trilux outdrive spray paint over their Primocon primer. It comes in white or black but that should not be a problem under the boat. I also had success in the past with two coats of Interprotect 2000 barrier coat on the shaft and prop under a coating of my regular epoxy copper botton paint. Apparently the copper in most paints is not active for anti-fouling if it is in contact with a bare metal surface. This three-four coat method is also a lot more work to apply and to remove as compared to the spray paints. Running the prop regularly also helps to reduce growth.
The best stuff to use (IMHO) was the tributyl tin-based outdrive spray paints. They were easy to use and always gave good performance but are now banned in all waters. This year I am going to try Interlux Trilux outdrive spray paint over their Primocon primer. It comes in white or black but that should not be a problem under the boat. I also had success in the past with two coats of Interprotect 2000 barrier coat on the shaft and prop under a coating of my regular epoxy copper botton paint. Apparently the copper in most paints is not active for anti-fouling if it is in contact with a bare metal surface. This three-four coat method is also a lot more work to apply and to remove as compared to the spray paints. Running the prop regularly also helps to reduce growth.
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