prop shaft antifouling
- Thread starter chrisings
- Start date
Clean prop and shaft
I have used the same method for the past ten+ years and never have more than a few barnacles on my prop or shaft. I clean the stainless steel shaft and bronze prop down to clean metal with a wire brush on an electric drill. Wipe with solvent and apply two coats of a primer - preferable a non-metallic primer. I have used Interprotect successfully but other non-metallic primers work as well – even Rustoleum primer. I then apply two coats of any available copper based bottom paint and splash the boat. Don't prime or paint under or over the zincs. As I said, little to no fouling after six+ months. I use the boat almost every weekend and motor perhaps for 30-60 minutes total each time we take the boat out. By the end of the season, the paint has mostly worn off the tips and parts of the prop blades but is intact elsewhere.
I have tried this method without the primer and always got bad fouling of the prop and shaft. Interlux outdrive spray works well if used with their primer but is more expensive. I have heard others theorize that the electrolysis current set up between the metal shaft/prop and plain copper paint somehow keeps the copper inactive and thus allows barnacle fouling. A non-metallic barrier coat of primer stops this interaction and allows the copper to inhibit growth.
I sail in the salt waters of Barnegat Bay NJ and keep the boat in Forked River - a somewhat brackish river feeding the bay.
I have used the same method for the past ten+ years and never have more than a few barnacles on my prop or shaft. I clean the stainless steel shaft and bronze prop down to clean metal with a wire brush on an electric drill. Wipe with solvent and apply two coats of a primer - preferable a non-metallic primer. I have used Interprotect successfully but other non-metallic primers work as well – even Rustoleum primer. I then apply two coats of any available copper based bottom paint and splash the boat. Don't prime or paint under or over the zincs. As I said, little to no fouling after six+ months. I use the boat almost every weekend and motor perhaps for 30-60 minutes total each time we take the boat out. By the end of the season, the paint has mostly worn off the tips and parts of the prop blades but is intact elsewhere.
I have tried this method without the primer and always got bad fouling of the prop and shaft. Interlux outdrive spray works well if used with their primer but is more expensive. I have heard others theorize that the electrolysis current set up between the metal shaft/prop and plain copper paint somehow keeps the copper inactive and thus allows barnacle fouling. A non-metallic barrier coat of primer stops this interaction and allows the copper to inhibit growth.
I sail in the salt waters of Barnegat Bay NJ and keep the boat in Forked River - a somewhat brackish river feeding the bay.
I polish my bronze shaft and prop with 300-800 grit emory paper, use a split piece of garden hose to cover the spot where the anode will be installed to keep from being painted, then spray the shaft and prop with a couple of coats of Petit Zinc Coat Barnacle Spray. Works pretty well: at the end of the season, I only have a few easy to remove barnacles.
I have a C30 as well. I've tried all of the above mentioned methods and products. For the past several years I use Forespar Lanocote.
http://search.defender.com/?expression=lanocote&s=1&Trigger=ac
For the price, $27 for 16 oz which will cover several years you can't beat it. it is easy to clean off every season and reapply and yes...it keeps the barnacles and other stuff of the prop and shaft. And to the op, it looks good, almost clear!
I just put a coat on the prop yesterday and am ready for a 6 month season here on Long Island.
http://search.defender.com/?expression=lanocote&s=1&Trigger=ac
For the price, $27 for 16 oz which will cover several years you can't beat it. it is easy to clean off every season and reapply and yes...it keeps the barnacles and other stuff of the prop and shaft. And to the op, it looks good, almost clear!
I just put a coat on the prop yesterday and am ready for a 6 month season here on Long Island.
I've used the same Forespar Lanocote Prop & Bottom with mixed results, however I never applied it on a brightly polished prop but over some sanded down Pettit Zinc Coat Barnacle Barrier (which was used in previous years). I have used it on a brightly polished prop shaft and it seemed to work well.
Any tips on the application? Do you heat the prop up or the Forespar Lanocote up before applying?
Also recently reviewed on Sail:
http://www.sailmagazine.com/boatworks/beat-barnacles
Was thinking of trying Prop Armor which is available at West Marine.
