Trying to avoid this next season? I have been told you can first epoxy the prop and then put anti-fouling paint on. Not sure the brand or the best ways to prepare before painting? Any suggestions?
Suggestions on How to Keep Barnacles off Prop
- Thread starter tim61
- Start date
Trying the latest snakeoil treatment, majic marker, met a few people who swear by it, will let you know in a few months
It has been years but as a former dealer, I use to put a coating on a clean prop, then add a tye or tie coat to it, then applied bottom paint. Never came off. Not sure if it was Petit or not. Before, I pulled my hair out trying to keep bottom paint on the prop.
i am with Kermit on this one ...wouldn't have been better to just use a wire brush
Having tried the various suggested zinc spraying and bottom paint variations, last spring I used Propspeed. No (IMO) at approx $200 for a single prop application with complete kit sold at West Marine. you don't need to mortgage your house. Just a question of how much this annoys you and how many times you want to dive on the prop or pay someone to do it and scrape off the barnacles. End result of one season in LI Sound - zero growth of any kind on prop or shaft. Definitely worth it to me.
Barnacles
Of course, the best way to keep barnacles off your prop is to use your engine often. That said, I have used the same method for the past ten years and never have more than one or two 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/spray two coats of 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.
Of course, the best way to keep barnacles off your prop is to use your engine often. That said, I have used the same method for the past ten years and never have more than one or two 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/spray two coats of 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 tested prop glop this past year. After the boat came out for a new bottom clean and paint i globbed on this prop glop,as instructed. I checked by diving under and it did a pretty good job for about 6 months. Then the stuff had worn off and had to be reapplied. It comes in a dispenser very similar to speed stick deodorant. Works the same and can be applied under water. It worked while it was on the prop but after awhile i guess i rationalized if i was diving on the prop anyhow, i might just as well scrape it too,and save the cost of the prop glop. It is a sticky substance and well named "glop"
I've tried many different coatings from the 5-part running gear types on. Depending on where you sail, determines the lifespan.
Unfortunately for me, we have alot of in & out passes for Gulf access. The problem lies with the sand content in the water table. An outgoing tide will have a 1 mile radius plume of suspended sand.
Every time you motor thru this, your sanding off what you have on your running gear. So for me, any coating never lasted more than 4-5 months. It's not worth some yard costs for multiple application methods. I instead, have a scuba clean guy that does my boat monthly, he's my running gear coating!
I knew of one older guy that kept a black plastic trash bag over his prop. He had to jump in to cover & uncover but, swore he never had barnacles.......True story.
CR
Unfortunately for me, we have alot of in & out passes for Gulf access. The problem lies with the sand content in the water table. An outgoing tide will have a 1 mile radius plume of suspended sand.
Every time you motor thru this, your sanding off what you have on your running gear. So for me, any coating never lasted more than 4-5 months. It's not worth some yard costs for multiple application methods. I instead, have a scuba clean guy that does my boat monthly, he's my running gear coating!
I knew of one older guy that kept a black plastic trash bag over his prop. He had to jump in to cover & uncover but, swore he never had barnacles.......True story.
CR