Protecting propeller

[RAD]

I pulled my boat and the bottom looked pretty clean for a year in the water but the prop and shaft that was not painted had a lot of barnicals (I had to dive under in Aug. to clear the prop cause the boat would not go)also the strut which was painted has barnicals. Any one have ideas what to put on shaft and prop? *!bottom paint?The old guy in the yard said to put STP (the oil additive)right before launch, some time these old tricks work well,but oil I'm not so sure.Any comments on this?

 

[Paul Akers]

I Have Used Bottom Paint...

...on my shaft & prop for years (10) and have had no problems. I repaint the shaft and prop each year after sanding it to a bright finish.

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

Paul, I hope you are leaving the zincs unpainted

I hope you are not painting the shaft before you install the shaft zincs, and also not painting on the zincs either. The zincs needs to be in good contact with the shaft, with nothing in between, and it also needs to be in direct contact with the water.

 

[Terry Cox]

My yard told me to put on two thick...

coats of Desitin on all bright work below the waterline. It is the same stuff used to protect baby bottoms. Main ingredient is zinc oxide and it kept my shaft and prop clear for two seasons.Terry

 

[PaulK]

What you use

Slapping bottom paint onto the strut , shaft & prop can work well. It is a VERY good idea to properly prime the metal (leaving bare a spot for the Zinc , and of course not painting the Zinc either) before putting the bottom paint on, however. Priming avoids setting up a situation for electrolysis between the probable copper in the bottom paint and the other metals. One season without priming our prop resulted in etching marks on it. Several seasons might have resulted in a blade of swiss cheese. Your results may vary, depending upon the paint used. We've also noticed that the electrical charge developed by not having zincs seems to deter marine growth as well. Leaving off zincs may lead to other issues though, and might not be the best route to take!

 

[John T1594]

Need to prime

As some have mentioned below, it is essential to use some sort of primer on the shaft and prop before using any antifouling paint. In the past I have used Interlux barrier coat with some success under a coat of Trinidad. This past year, in an attempt to make my life a little easier, I sprayed the shaft, prop and strut with Interlux Primlux primer for outdrives and then two coats of white Trilux outdrive antifouling paint. After six months in the water, the paint was mostly gone from the prop (we use the boat every weekend) but there was only one barnacle. Some of the paint had disappeared from the shaft but most was there and kept it clean of growth. I was careful not to paint under or over the shaft zincs.The boat is kept in slightly brackish water near the mouth of a freash water river flowing into a salt water bay in central New Jersey (Forked River on Barnegat Bay).

 

[AndyK]

Desitin worked for me

I had also heard about using Zinc Oxide (Desitin) on my shaft and prop so I applied it just before launching this past spring. When hauled last week and after the yard power washed the bottom I had no growth at all, not a thing to clean off. The shaft and line cutter are still a little tacky from the stuff and it all seems to have worn off of the prop. I'll clean it up in the spring before putting on the new zincs and use it again.Andy

 

[Tim R.]

Something to ponder?

If it works so good on the prop, why not on the bottom? The boat's bottom for all you wise guys out there!"Preperation H does feel good...on the Whole" - DR. EvilTim R.

 

[Jentine]

A rolling stone

gathers no moss. The same can be said for a turning prop. Use the boat several times per week and you won't have to worry about critters making their home on your propulsion gear.Jim

 

[Ed Hanley14076]

Prop protection

I have used STP for years and find it works great. I put it on an absorbent pad, then put the rag in a ziplock bag, jump in, remove it from the bag, and wipe it on. It seems to deter most growth from starting, but if one barnacle gets a foothold, it is knocked loose very easily. Be prepared for someone to complain you are fouling the bay.