Propeller Paint

[Lauren Narragansett]

The boat was hauled out today and I see that my propeller no longer has any paint on it. It's not completely gone but there are large areas. The barnacles and growth was not that bad, but I think I could have done better. Looking around at other propellers I see that some have so little growth that I am wondering what I can put on it next year.
What do you use?

 

[John T1594]

I have used a method for many years and have not had more than 3 - 4 barnacles on the entire prop and shaft each year. I strip the prop and shaft to bare metal with a wire brush or wheel. I wipe it down with solvent and then apply two coats of a metal primer. I have been using Interprotect but any good primer will do. I then paint on two coats of my regular copper bottom paint. Do not paint or prime under or over the shaft zincs. By the end of the season, most of the paint has worn off the prop blades but is intact elsewhere. The bare blades are free of barnacles and other growth. I use my boat almost every weekend and motor perhaps one hour over the two days.

 

[Steve Dion]

Use your boat more often. You can spin those little critters off just like the paint.

I think that the areas that have more sand/solids in suspension will tend to wear the paint quicker.

Sounds like John's method would be worth trying.

 

[Vinny]

Also the use of a diver on a regular basis is another way to keep the whole bottom clean. Here where the boats may only come out once every two or so years it works wonders. Our diver does the boat every month in June, July, August and September then every other month the rest of the year so that is eight times a year. He charges me $57 each time and $20 for new zincs as needed on a 40' boat. $460 + Zincs as needed per year. The last time we were out there were three barnacles on the whole bottom. Not bad for two and 1/2 years. If I'm going on a long trip for several weeks I call him in advance and he moves me up in the schedule so that I never leave with crud on the bottom.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Lauren
There is a paint specifically made for this purpose which works exceedingly well -
Pettit Zinc Coat Barnacle Barrier paint.
Comes in a spray can and is available virtually anywhere

 

[Ivan]

My marina uses the zinc barrier paint and works pretty well--fewer barnacles, and smaller, but not zero. Definitely an improvement over no paint at all, or just bottom paint since it does not stick as well to the prop as the zinc paint so that it wears off much more quickly.

 

[Ivan]

Zinc paint works

My marina uses the zinc barrier paint and works pretty well--fewer barnacles, and smaller, but not zero. Definitely an improvement over no paint at all, or just bottom paint since it does not stick as well to the prop as the zinc paint so that it wears off much more quickly.

 

[Michael G]

I have used a product call prop-speed for the last three years and it is amazing. It is a bit pricey but it is well worth the cost. Google it and watch the video. Over the three years the boat was in the water the diver never had to touch the prop.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Michael, do you know...

I have used a product call prop-speed for the last three years and it is amazing. <snip> Over the three years the boat was in the water the diver never had to touch the prop.

Do you know if Prop Speed will stand up to manual cleaning by a diver?

Did you apply it yourself and if so how difficult was the process?

 

[Michael G]

Rich, All the diver has to do is wipe it with his hand. Small creatures land on the blades but don't stick and with spin of the prop they fall right off. Yes, I did apply it myself...............the trick is to sand the prop completely with 80 grit paper, wipe with aceatone and apply the primer coat. It is a two man operation cause the final clear coat must be applied within three minutes of the primer. Give it a try as this stuff is amazing. A 250Mml kit will do two sailboat props and shaft.