Propeller - to paint or not to paint Last year I painted my propeller and shaft with ablative bottom paint. Needless to say the results were very poor ……experienced sever problems with barnacles growing on them. What is the best way to prevent growth on the propeller during the season? Any recommendations are greatly valued.
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Resolve for your problem.
Leif: I know exactly how to solve your problem. Do NOT paint it and use the boat every week. It makes all the difference in the world when the prop is spinning at 1000 rpms. Those little critters get dizzy and hang on to someone else prop.
Leif: I know exactly how to solve your problem. Do NOT paint it and use the boat every week. It makes all the difference in the world when the prop is spinning at 1000 rpms. Those little critters get dizzy and hang on to someone else prop.
Good One Steve! Hehehehehe!
Hahahahahaha! Good one Steve! That was funny! Skipper (The Master Bater....Fastest to bate a hook at the 2003 World Cat Fish Tournament...Wa Wa Washington.) P.S....I know you and I had a bit of friction but let's move on pal!
Hahahahahaha! Good one Steve! That was funny! Skipper (The Master Bater....Fastest to bate a hook at the 2003 World Cat Fish Tournament...Wa Wa Washington.) P.S....I know you and I had a bit of friction but let's move on pal!
Steve's right!
I've never painted my prop or shaft, BUT, I was sailing AT LEAST once a week (in fresh water...but, big problems with zebra mussels)...keep that thing turning...the little buggers won't bug you...maybe try that teflon spray that they offer for power boats..sounds like you have a serious barnacle problem in RI...
I've never painted my prop or shaft, BUT, I was sailing AT LEAST once a week (in fresh water...but, big problems with zebra mussels)...keep that thing turning...the little buggers won't bug you...maybe try that teflon spray that they offer for power boats..sounds like you have a serious barnacle problem in RI...
Funny you should ask
I have a lot of (anectodal) experience on this one. 1. Steve is right. Use the boat and you don't get barnacles. 2. Bottom paint does not work. Myself and many others have tried it. I know one guy in HI who even had the prop powder coat painted. Still did not work. It seems that the prop motion actually "sand blassts" the coating (just as it should the barnicles before they get a hold/ 3. Limited sucess (outdrives etc) with "greasy" coatings that stop the barnicles sticking for a while 4. IG is working on it when time as this is the holy grail and could actually make some money! What is needed is somethint that is non-ahesive. does not "blast off" contains a "pharmaceutical barnicle inbhitor" and ideally could be applied underwater. ---Maybe next year? Thanks Jim Willis
I have a lot of (anectodal) experience on this one. 1. Steve is right. Use the boat and you don't get barnacles. 2. Bottom paint does not work. Myself and many others have tried it. I know one guy in HI who even had the prop powder coat painted. Still did not work. It seems that the prop motion actually "sand blassts" the coating (just as it should the barnicles before they get a hold/ 3. Limited sucess (outdrives etc) with "greasy" coatings that stop the barnicles sticking for a while 4. IG is working on it when time as this is the holy grail and could actually make some money! What is needed is somethint that is non-ahesive. does not "blast off" contains a "pharmaceutical barnicle inbhitor" and ideally could be applied underwater. ---Maybe next year? Thanks Jim Willis
barnicle bill
I have been plagued for years with crustations on my prop. Last year for the first time I had modified success. I put a coat of barrier coat on the prop, then a coat of regular bottom paint then a coat of ablative paint. It WORKED. There were several barnicles on the prop, but not a great big ball where you couldn''t guess what was below. The performance was great. Prior years I couldn't even motor by seasons end. Give it a try.
I have been plagued for years with crustations on my prop. Last year for the first time I had modified success. I put a coat of barrier coat on the prop, then a coat of regular bottom paint then a coat of ablative paint. It WORKED. There were several barnicles on the prop, but not a great big ball where you couldn''t guess what was below. The performance was great. Prior years I couldn't even motor by seasons end. Give it a try.
Hi Leif, my local marina repair facility...
suggested using Desitin, an ointment used for diaper rash. I put two thick coats on our prop and shaft last year. Terry
suggested using Desitin, an ointment used for diaper rash. I put two thick coats on our prop and shaft last year. Terry
Ad from the sheepgrowing capital of the world
Lanocote works well,sounds a bit like the same as the rash cure perhaps.ie lanoline base
Lanocote works well,sounds a bit like the same as the rash cure perhaps.ie lanoline base
I'll let you know what happens.....
when I have mine done. I'm leaving my new to us boat on the West Coast of Florida for the summer. It's been there since Xmas time. I have a diver scrub the bottom every 6 weeks, and the baracles keep growing on the running gear. This diver also paints bottoms. He suggested that I paint the running gear (shafts, strutts, props). I told him that I have tried it and it does not hold up. His answer was that It was not prepped properly. He went through the proceedure and said he has had excellent results. Basically, the gear gets sandblasted, then acid etched, then primed, then painted. He claims it works like a charm. He cleans the bottoms so I guess he knows. The water temp in the St. Pete area gets to be about 90 in the summer, so stuff grows extremely fast. I'll let you know how it works.
when I have mine done. I'm leaving my new to us boat on the West Coast of Florida for the summer. It's been there since Xmas time. I have a diver scrub the bottom every 6 weeks, and the baracles keep growing on the running gear. This diver also paints bottoms. He suggested that I paint the running gear (shafts, strutts, props). I told him that I have tried it and it does not hold up. His answer was that It was not prepped properly. He went through the proceedure and said he has had excellent results. Basically, the gear gets sandblasted, then acid etched, then primed, then painted. He claims it works like a charm. He cleans the bottoms so I guess he knows. The water temp in the St. Pete area gets to be about 90 in the summer, so stuff grows extremely fast. I'll let you know how it works.
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tampa view
I have one power and one sail on tampa bay in the water year round. We have to pull ever 12 to 24 months depending on use. The etching process works well for most of us and seems to be the best way to do it here. A good paint makes a real difference too. we use a lot of trinadad here hard paint works well if the bottom is scheduled for in water scrubbings. I can keep paint on my high speed 35knot inboard prop with out too much problem. I do run some boats for others who leave them here which helps all the systems stay working. Usually run all the systems regularly. and run the boat charges batteries, lubes the equipment reduces moisture in fuel ect. If you plan to leave it in florida unattended this is a good way to go. It will save you lots in the long run.
I have one power and one sail on tampa bay in the water year round. We have to pull ever 12 to 24 months depending on use. The etching process works well for most of us and seems to be the best way to do it here. A good paint makes a real difference too. we use a lot of trinadad here hard paint works well if the bottom is scheduled for in water scrubbings. I can keep paint on my high speed 35knot inboard prop with out too much problem. I do run some boats for others who leave them here which helps all the systems stay working. Usually run all the systems regularly. and run the boat charges batteries, lubes the equipment reduces moisture in fuel ect. If you plan to leave it in florida unattended this is a good way to go. It will save you lots in the long run.
Two methods that may work
I have tried all types of things but only two have worked for me so far (in New Jersey waters). One, as suggested, is to put a barrier coat on the prop & shaft followed by a good bottom paint. This works pretty well, although much of the paint eventually wears off the prop. Last season, I tried a coating of clear outdrive paint with the recommended primer coat. It seemd to work fairly well with only handful of separate barnacles on the shaft. Some have suggested that just leaving the zincs off your shaft will prevent any growth - but I don't know if I have the nerve.
I have tried all types of things but only two have worked for me so far (in New Jersey waters). One, as suggested, is to put a barrier coat on the prop & shaft followed by a good bottom paint. This works pretty well, although much of the paint eventually wears off the prop. Last season, I tried a coating of clear outdrive paint with the recommended primer coat. It seemd to work fairly well with only handful of separate barnacles on the shaft. Some have suggested that just leaving the zincs off your shaft will prevent any growth - but I don't know if I have the nerve.
Clear Outdrive paint
This is the second year that I have tried the clear bottom paint for outboards, I had NO barnicles last fall, I appled the clear again, we will see! I remove the prop, clean and polish, then paint it with both the undercoat primer then two top coats.
This is the second year that I have tried the clear bottom paint for outboards, I had NO barnicles last fall, I appled the clear again, we will see! I remove the prop, clean and polish, then paint it with both the undercoat primer then two top coats.
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